Windows PowerShell 2.0 must not be installed.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-224859	WN16-00-000420	SV-224859r569186_rule		Medium

Description
Windows PowerShell 5.0 added advanced logging features that can provide additional detail when malware has been run on a system. Disabling the Windows PowerShell 2.0 mitigates against a downgrade attack that evades the Windows PowerShell 5.0 script block logging feature.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-08-22

Details

Check Text ( C-26550r465479_chk )
Open "PowerShell". Enter "Get-WindowsFeature \| Where Name -eq PowerShell-v2". If "Installed State" is "Installed", this is a finding. An Installed State of "Available" or "Removed" is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-26538r465480_fix)
Uninstall the "Windows PowerShell 2.0 Engine". Start "Server Manager". Select the server with the feature. Scroll down to "ROLES AND FEATURES" in the right pane. Select "Remove Roles and Features" from the drop-down "TASKS" list. Select the appropriate server on the "Server Selection" page and click "Next". Deselect "Windows PowerShell 2.0 Engine" under "Windows PowerShell" on the "Features" page. Click "Next" and "Remove" as prompted.

Fix Text (F-26538r465480_fix)

Uninstall the "Windows PowerShell 2.0 Engine".

Start "Server Manager".

Select the server with the feature.

Scroll down to "ROLES AND FEATURES" in the right pane.

Select "Remove Roles and Features" from the drop-down "TASKS" list.

Select the appropriate server on the "Server Selection" page and click "Next".

Deselect "Windows PowerShell 2.0 Engine" under "Windows PowerShell" on the "Features" page.

Click "Next" and "Remove" as prompted.