UCF STIG Viewer Logo

Disable the feature to automatically update links when the document opens - Word.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-17811 DTOO302 - Word SV-19048r1_rule ECSC-1 Medium
Description
By default, when users open documents Word 2007 automatically updates any links to external content, such as graphics, Excel worksheets, and PowerPoint slides. To disable automatic updating, the user can click the Office Button, click Word Options, click Advanced, scroll to the General section, and then clear the Update automatic links at open check box. If Word is configured to automatically update links when documents are open, document content can change without the user's knowledge, which could put important information at risk.
STIG Date
Microsoft Word 2007 2015-10-02

Details

Check Text ( C-19090r1_chk )
The policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office Word 2007 -> Word Options -> Advanced “Update automatic links at Open” will be set to “Disabled”.

Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key:

HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Word\Options\vpref

Criteria: If the value fNoCalcLinksOnOpen_90_1 is REG_DWORD = 1 this is not a finding.
Fix Text (F-17712r1_fix)
The policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office Word 2007 -> Word Options -> Advanced “Update automatic links at Open” will be set to “Disabled”.