Named pipes and shares can be accessed anonymously.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-6834	3.116	SV-25099r1_rule	ECSC-1	High

Description
This is a Category 1 finding because of the potential for gaining unauthorized system access. Pipes are internal system communications processes. They are identified internally by ID numbers that vary between systems. To make access to these processes easier, these pipes are given names that do not vary between systems. When this setting is disabled, network shares can be accessed by any network user. This could lead to the exposure or corruption of sensitive data. This setting configures Windows to restrict anonymous access to only those shares and pipes listed in “Network Access: Named Pipes that can be accessed anonymously”.

Description

This is a Category 1 finding because of the potential for gaining unauthorized system access. Pipes are internal system communications processes. They are identified internally by ID numbers that vary between systems. To make access to these processes easier, these pipes are given names that do not vary between systems. When this setting is disabled, network shares can be accessed by any network user. This could lead to the exposure or corruption of sensitive data. This setting configures Windows to restrict anonymous access to only those shares and pipes listed in “Network Access: Named Pipes that can be accessed anonymously”.

STIG	Date
Windows 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2012-08-22

Details

Check Text ( C-3114r1_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 “Network access: Restrict anonymous access to Named Pipes and Shares” is not set to “Enabled”, then this is a finding. The policy referenced configures the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanManServer\Parameters\ Value Name: RestrictNullSessAccess Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1

Check Text ( C-3114r1_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 “Network access: Restrict anonymous access to Named Pipes and Shares” is not set to “Enabled”, then this is a finding.

The policy referenced configures the following registry value:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanManServer\Parameters\

Value Name: RestrictNullSessAccess

Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

Fix Text (F-6521r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> “Network access: Restrict anonymous access to Named Pipes and Shares” to “Enabled”.