The system must be configured to use Safe DLL Search Mode.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-3479	WN08-SO-000045	SV-48117r1_rule		Medium

Description
The default search behavior, when an application calls a function in a Dynamic Link Library (DLL), is to search the current directory, followed by the directories contained in the system's path environment variable. An unauthorized DLL, inserted into an application's working directory, could allow malicious code to be run on the system. Setting this policy value forces the system to search the %Systemroot% for the DLL before searching the current directory or the rest of the path.

Description

The default search behavior, when an application calls a function in a Dynamic Link Library (DLL), is to search the current directory, followed by the directories contained in the system's path environment variable. An unauthorized DLL, inserted into an application's working directory, could allow malicious code to be run on the system. Setting this policy value forces the system to search the %Systemroot% for the DLL before searching the current directory or the rest of the path.

STIG	Date
Windows 8/8.1 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2017-04-28

Details

Check Text ( None )
None

Fix Text (F-41254r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> "MSS: (SafeDllSearchMode) Enable Safe DLL search mode (recommended)" to "Enabled".