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Files located in unsafe locations must be opened in Protected view in Word.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-99883 O365-WD-000004 SV-108987r1_rule Medium
Description
This policy setting lets you determine if files located in unsafe locations will open in Protected View. If you have not specified unsafe locations, only the "Downloaded Program Files" and "Temporary Internet Files" folders are considered unsafe locations. If you enable this policy setting, files located in unsafe locations do not open in Protected View. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, files located in unsafe locations open in Protected View.
STIG Date
Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus Security Technical Implementation Guide 2020-06-17

Details

Check Text ( C-98733r1_chk )
Verify the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Microsoft Word 2016 >> Word Options >> Security >> Trust Center >> Protected View >> Do not open files in unsafe locations in Protected View is set to "Disabled".

Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key:

HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\security\protectedview.

If the value for disableunsafelocationsinpv is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding. If the value does not exist, this is not a finding.

If the value is REG_DWORD = 1, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-105567r1_fix)
Set the policy setting, User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Microsoft Word 2016 >> Word Options >> Security >> Trust Center >> Protected View >> Do not open files in unsafe locations in Protected View to "Disabled".