Automatic download of linked images must be disallowed.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-17809	DTOO291 - PowerPoint	SV-33603r1_rule		Medium

Description
When users insert images into PowerPoint presentations, they can select Link to File instead of Insert. If they do so, the image is represented by a link to a file on disk instead of being embedded in the presentation file itself. By default, when PowerPoint opens a presentation it does not display any linked images saved on a different computer unless the presentation itself is saved in a trusted location (as configured in the Trust Center). If this configuration is changed, PowerPoint will load any images that were saved in remote locations, which presents a security risk.

Description

When users insert images into PowerPoint presentations, they can select Link to File instead of Insert. If they do so, the image is represented by a link to a file on disk instead of being embedded in the presentation file itself. By default, when PowerPoint opens a presentation it does not display any linked images saved on a different computer unless the presentation itself is saved in a trusted location (as configured in the Trust Center). If this configuration is changed, PowerPoint will load any images that were saved in remote locations, which presents a security risk.

STIG	Date
Microsoft PowerPoint 2010	2016-10-28

Details

Check Text ( None )
None

Fix Text (F-29745r1_fix)
Set the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 -> PowerPoint Options -> Security “Unblock automatic download of linked images” to “Disabled”.