The Windows 8 default Communications apps (Mail, People, Messaging and Calendar) must be removed from the system.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-36750	WN08-GE-000045	SV-48399r1_rule	ECSC-1	Medium

Description
Applications must be updated as flaws are identified and remediations are made available. The method for Windows 8 apps is through the Windows Store, which is required to be blocked. This will prevent updates and potentially leave these apps in unsecure versions.

STIG	Date
Windows 8 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2014-01-07

Details

Check Text ( C-45068r1_chk )
Verify the Communications apps have been removed from the system. Open a command prompt as an administrator. Enter "dism /online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages". If "DisplayName : microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps" is listed this, is a finding.

Fix Text (F-41530r1_fix)
Remove the Communications apps from the system. Open a command prompt as an administrator. Enter "dism /online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages". Make note of the PackageName (e.g., microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16.4.4206.722_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe) Enter the following to remove the app package from the system: "dism /online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:packagename" substituting "packagename" noted from the previous step. Uninstall the application from any user profiles provisioned prior to this.

Fix Text (F-41530r1_fix)

Remove the Communications apps from the system.
Open a command prompt as an administrator.
Enter "dism /online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages".
Make note of the PackageName (e.g., microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_16.4.4206.722_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe)
Enter the following to remove the app package from the system: "dism /online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:packagename" substituting "packagename" noted from the previous step.
Uninstall the application from any user profiles provisioned prior to this.