The More Gadgets link must be disabled.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-15725	5.251	SV-25268r2_rule		Medium

Description
Uncontrolled installation of applications can introduce various issues, including system instability, and allow access to sensitive information. Installation of applications must be controlled by the enterprise. This setting prevents access to gadgets through the More Gadgets link.

STIG	Date
Windows 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2018-02-12

Details

Check Text ( C-57971r2_chk )
If Desktop Gadgets have been disabled, this is NA. Verify the following registry value to determine if Desktop Gadgets have been disabled: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar\ Value Name: TurnOffSidebar Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 If Desktop Gadgets have not been disabled and the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar\ Value Name: OverrideMoreGadgetsLink Type: REG_SZ Value: about:blank

Check Text ( C-57971r2_chk )

If Desktop Gadgets have been disabled, this is NA.
Verify the following registry value to determine if Desktop Gadgets have been disabled:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar\

Value Name: TurnOffSidebar

Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

If Desktop Gadgets have not been disabled and the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar\

Value Name: OverrideMoreGadgetsLink

Type: REG_SZ
Value: about:blank

Fix Text (F-62295r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Desktop Gadgets -> "Override the More Gadgets Link" to "Enabled" with "about:blank" entered in the "Override Gadget Location". To turn off Desktop Gadgets completely, configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Desktop Gadgets -> "Turn off desktop gadgets" to "Enabled".

Fix Text (F-62295r1_fix)

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Desktop Gadgets -> "Override the More Gadgets Link" to "Enabled" with "about:blank" entered in the "Override Gadget Location".

To turn off Desktop Gadgets completely, configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Desktop Gadgets -> "Turn off desktop gadgets" to "Enabled".