Firefox encrypted media extensions must be disabled.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-251581	FFOX-00-000037	SV-251581r807215_rule		Medium

Description
Enable or disable Encrypted Media Extensions and optionally lock it. If "Enabled" is set to "false", Firefox does not download encrypted media extensions (such as Widevine) unless the user consents to installing them. If "Locked" is set to "true" and "Enabled" is set to "false", Firefox will not download encrypted media extensions (such as Widevine) or ask the user to install them. It is detrimental for applications to provide, or install by default, functionality exceeding requirements or mission objectives. These unnecessary capabilities or services are often overlooked and therefore may remain unsecured. They increase the risk to the platform by providing additional attack vectors. Applications are capable of providing a wide variety of functions and services. Some of the functions and services, provided by default, may not be necessary to support essential organizational operations (e.g., key missions, functions). Examples of non-essential capabilities include but are not limited to advertising software or browser plug-ins that are not related to requirements or provide a wide array of functionality not required for every mission but that cannot be disabled.

Description

Enable or disable Encrypted Media Extensions and optionally lock it. If "Enabled" is set to "false", Firefox does not download encrypted media extensions (such as Widevine) unless the user consents to installing them. If "Locked" is set to "true" and "Enabled" is set to "false", Firefox will not download encrypted media extensions (such as Widevine) or ask the user to install them. It is detrimental for applications to provide, or install by default, functionality exceeding requirements or mission objectives. These unnecessary capabilities or services are often overlooked and therefore may remain unsecured. They increase the risk to the platform by providing additional attack vectors. Applications are capable of providing a wide variety of functions and services. Some of the functions and services, provided by default, may not be necessary to support essential organizational operations (e.g., key missions, functions). Examples of non-essential capabilities include but are not limited to advertising software or browser plug-ins that are not related to requirements or provide a wide array of functionality not required for every mission but that cannot be disabled.

STIG	Date
Mozilla Firefox Security Technical Implementation Guide	2022-09-09

Details

Check Text ( C-55016r807213_chk )
Type "about:policies" in the browser address bar. If "EncryptedMediaExtensions" is not displayed under Policy Name or the Policy Value does not have "Enabled" set to "false" or the Policy Value does not have "Locked" set to "true", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-54970r807214_fix)
Windows group policy: 1. Open the group policy editor tool with "gpedit.msc". 2. Navigate to Policy Path: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Mozilla\Firefox\Encrypted Media Extensions Policy Name: Enable Encrypted Media Extensions Policy State: Disabled Policy Name: Lock Encrypted Media Extensions Policy State: Enabled macOS "plist" file: EncryptedMediaExtensions Enabled Locked Linux "policies.json" file: Add the following in the policies section: "EncryptedMediaExtensions": { "Enabled": false, "Locked": true }

Fix Text (F-54970r807214_fix)

Windows group policy:
1. Open the group policy editor tool with "gpedit.msc".
2. Navigate to Policy Path: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Mozilla\Firefox\Encrypted Media Extensions
Policy Name: Enable Encrypted Media Extensions
Policy State: Disabled
Policy Name: Lock Encrypted Media Extensions
Policy State: Enabled

macOS "plist" file:
EncryptedMediaExtensions

Enabled

Locked

Linux "policies.json" file:
Add the following in the policies section:
"EncryptedMediaExtensions": {
"Enabled": false,
"Locked": true
}