The system must be configured to have password protection take effect within a limited time frame when the screen saver becomes active.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
WN12-SO-000046	WN12-SO-000046	WN12-SO-000046_rule		Low

Description
Allowing more than several seconds makes the computer vulnerable to a potential attack from someone walking up to the console to attempt to log on to the system before the lock takes effect.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Domain Controller Security Technical Implementation Guide	2013-07-25

Details

Check Text ( C-WN12-SO-000046_chk )
If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\ Value Name: ScreenSaverGracePeriod Value Type: REG_SZ Value: 5 (or less)

Fix Text (F-WN12-SO-000046_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> "MSS: (ScreenSaverGracePeriod) The time in seconds before the screen saver grace period expires (0 recommended)" to "5" or less. (See "Updating the Windows Security Options File" in the STIG Overview document if MSS settings are not visible in the system's policy tools.)

Fix Text (F-WN12-SO-000046_fix)

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> "MSS: (ScreenSaverGracePeriod) The time in seconds before the screen saver grace period expires (0 recommended)" to "5" or less.

(See "Updating the Windows Security Options File" in the STIG Overview document if MSS settings are not visible in the system's policy tools.)