The Windows Explorer Preview pane must be disabled for Windows Server 2016.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-236000	WN16-CC-000421	SV-236000r641817_rule		Medium

Description
A known vulnerability in Windows could allow the execution of malicious code by either opening a compromised document or viewing it in the Windows Preview pane. Organizations must disable the Windows Preview pane and Windows Detail pane.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2021-09-29

Details

Check Text ( C-39219r641815_chk )
If the following registry values do not exist or are not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer Value Name: NoPreviewPane Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 Registry Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer Value Name: NoReadingPane Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1

Check Text ( C-39219r641815_chk )

If the following registry values do not exist or are not configured as specified, this is a finding:

Registry Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Value Name: NoPreviewPane

Value Type: REG_DWORD

Value: 1

Registry Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Value Name: NoReadingPane

Value Type: REG_DWORD

Value: 1

Fix Text (F-39182r641816_fix)
Ensure the following settings are configured for Windows Server 2016 locally or applied through group policy. Configure the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> File Explorer >> Explorer Frame Pane "Turn off Preview Pane" to "Enabled". Configure the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> File Explorer >> Explorer Frame Pane "Turn on or off details pane" to "Enabled" and "Configure details pane" to "Always hide".

Fix Text (F-39182r641816_fix)

Ensure the following settings are configured for Windows Server 2016 locally or applied through group policy.

Configure the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> File Explorer >> Explorer Frame Pane "Turn off Preview Pane" to "Enabled".

Configure the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> File Explorer >> Explorer Frame Pane "Turn on or off details pane" to "Enabled" and "Configure details pane" to "Always hide".