Reversible password encryption must be disabled.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-225274	WN12-AC-000009	SV-225274r569185_rule		High

Description
Storing passwords using reversible encryption is essentially the same as storing clear-text versions of the passwords. For this reason, this policy must never be enabled.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 Member Server Security Technical Implementation Guide	2022-03-01

Details

Check Text ( C-26973r471164_chk )
Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor. Run "gpedit.msc". Navigate to Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Account Policies -> Password Policy. If the value for "Store password using reversible encryption" is not set to "Disabled", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-26961r471165_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Account Policies -> Password Policy -> "Store password using reversible encryption" to "Disabled".