Users must enter a password to access private keys.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-4444	3.109	SV-4444r3_rule	IAIA-1 IAIA-2	Medium

Description
Configuring this setting so that users must provide a password (distinct from their domain password) every time they use a key makes it more difficult for an attacker to access locally stored user keys, even if the attacker takes control of the user's computer and determines their logon password.

STIG	Date
Windows 2003 Domain Controller Security Technical Implementation Guide	2015-03-09

Details

Check Text ( C-32759r2_chk )
Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in. Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view. Navigate to Local Policies -> Security Options. If the value for “System cryptography: Force strong key protection for user keys stored in the computer” is not set to “User must enter a password each time they use a key”, this is a finding. The policy referenced configures the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Policies\Microsoft\Cryptography\ Value Name: ForceKeyProtection Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 2

Check Text ( C-32759r2_chk )

Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in.
Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view.
Navigate to Local Policies -> Security Options.

If the value for “System cryptography: Force strong key protection for user keys stored in the computer” is not set to “User must enter a password each time they use a key”, this is a finding.

The policy referenced configures the following registry value:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \Software\Policies\Microsoft\Cryptography\

Value Name: ForceKeyProtection

Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 2

Fix Text (F-28834r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> “System cryptography: Force strong key protection for user keys stored in the computer” to “User must enter a password each time they use a key”.