Updating of links in Excel must be prompted and not automatic.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-99731	O365-EX-000019	SV-108835r1_rule		Medium

Description
This policy setting controls whether Excel prompts users to update automatic links, or whether the updates occur in the background with no prompt. If you enable or do not configure this policy setting, Excel will prompt users to update automatic links. In addition, the "Ask to update automatic links" user interface option under File tab >> Advanced >> General is selected. If you disable this policy setting, Excel updates automatic links without prompting or informing users, which could compromise the integrity of some of the information in the workbook.

Description

This policy setting controls whether Excel prompts users to update automatic links, or whether the updates occur in the background with no prompt. If you enable or do not configure this policy setting, Excel will prompt users to update automatic links. In addition, the "Ask to update automatic links" user interface option under File tab >> Advanced >> General is selected. If you disable this policy setting, Excel updates automatic links without prompting or informing users, which could compromise the integrity of some of the information in the workbook.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus Security Technical Implementation Guide	2020-06-17

Details

Check Text ( C-98581r1_chk )
Verify the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Microsoft Excel 2016 >> Excel Options >> Advanced >> Ask to update automatic links is set to "Enabled". Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\options\binaryoptions If the value for fupdateext_78_1 is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-105415r1_fix)
Set the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Microsoft Excel 2016 >> Excel Options >> Advanced >> Ask to update automatic links to "Enabled".