This check verifies that Windows is configured to have password protection take effect within a limited time frame when the screen saver becomes active.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-4442	5.102	SV-29376r1_rule	PESL-1	Low

Description
Allowing more than several seconds makes the computer vulnerable to a potential attack from someone walking up to the console to attempt to log onto the system before the lock takes effect.

STIG	Date
Windows 2008 Member Server Security Technical Implementation Guide	2013-03-14

Details

Check Text ( C-32758r1_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 “MSS: (ScreenSaverGracePeriod) The time in seconds before the screen saver grace period expires (0 recommended)” is not set to “5” or less, then this is a finding. The policy referenced configures the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\ Value Name: ScreenSaverGracePeriod Value Type: REG_SZ Value: 5 (or less)

Check Text ( C-32758r1_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 “MSS: (ScreenSaverGracePeriod) The time in seconds before the screen saver grace period expires (0 recommended)” is not set to “5” or less, then this is a finding.

The policy referenced configures the following registry value:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\

Value Name: ScreenSaverGracePeriod

Value Type: REG_SZ
Value: 5 (or less)

Fix Text (F-28833r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> “MSS: (ScreenSaverGracePeriod) The time in seconds before the screen saver grace period expires (0 recommended)” to “5” or less.