Basic authentication for RSS feeds over HTTP must not be used.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-224951	WN16-CC-000430	SV-224951r569186_rule		Medium

Description
Basic authentication uses plain-text passwords that could be used to compromise a system. Disabling Basic authentication will reduce this potential.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2021-03-05

Details

Check Text ( C-26642r465755_chk )
The default behavior is for the Windows RSS platform to not use Basic authentication over HTTP connections. If the registry value name below does not exist, this is not a finding. If it exists and is configured with a value of "0", this is not a finding. If it exists and is configured with a value of "1", this is a finding. Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Feeds\ Value Name: AllowBasicAuthInClear Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0x00000000 (0) (or if the Value Name does not exist)

Check Text ( C-26642r465755_chk )

The default behavior is for the Windows RSS platform to not use Basic authentication over HTTP connections.

If the registry value name below does not exist, this is not a finding.

If it exists and is configured with a value of "0", this is not a finding.

If it exists and is configured with a value of "1", this is a finding.

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Feeds\

Value Name: AllowBasicAuthInClear

Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0x00000000 (0) (or if the Value Name does not exist)

Fix Text (F-26630r465756_fix)
The default behavior is for the Windows RSS platform to not use Basic authentication over HTTP connections. If this needs to be corrected, configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> RSS Feeds >> "Turn on Basic feed authentication over HTTP" to "Not Configured" or "Disabled".