The Windows 8 default Photos app must be updated with the latest security patches or removed from the system (Windows 8 initial release).

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-36751	WN08-GE-000046	SV-48400r5_rule	ECSC-1	Medium

Description
Applications must be updated as flaws are identified and remediations are made available. The default method for updating Windows 8 apps is through the Windows Store, which is required to be blocked. An alternate method must be used to maintain the default Windows 8 apps with the latest security updates if they are allowed on a system.

STIG	Date
Windows 8 / 8.1 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2015-06-16

Details

Check Text ( C-57809r3_chk )
This requirement is NA for Windows 8.1. The Photos app cannot be removed from Windows 8.1 systems. It is updated through normal OS patching mechanisms. Verify the default Photos app has been patched with the latest security related updates or removed from the system. Open a command prompt as an administrator. Enter "dism /online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages". If "DisplayName : microsoft.windowsphotos" is listed and has not been updated with the latest security related updates, this is a finding. The "PackageName" field will identify the version installed. Microsoft Article 2971128 summarizes security related updates to the default apps, including versions and release dates. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2971128

Check Text ( C-57809r3_chk )

This requirement is NA for Windows 8.1. The Photos app cannot be removed from Windows 8.1 systems. It is updated through normal OS patching mechanisms.

Verify the default Photos app has been patched with the latest security related updates or removed from the system.

Open a command prompt as an administrator.
Enter "dism /online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages".
If "DisplayName : microsoft.windowsphotos" is listed and has not been updated with the latest security related updates, this is a finding.

The "PackageName" field will identify the version installed.

Microsoft Article 2971128 summarizes security related updates to the default apps, including versions and release dates. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2971128

Fix Text (F-62133r4_fix)
This requirement is NA for Windows 8.1. The Photos app cannot be removed from Windows 8.1 systems. It is updated through normal OS patching mechanisms. Maintain the Photos app with the latest security related updates or remove it from the system. Microsoft provides security related updates to default provisioned apps through the Microsoft Update Catalog for WSUS or as MSI files, as an alternate method to the Windows Store for updating. Microsoft Article 2971128 summarizes security related updates to the default apps, including versions and release dates. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2971128 To remove the Photos app from the system: Open a command prompt as an administrator. Enter "dism /online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages". Make note of the PackageName (e.g., microsoft.windowsphotos_16.4.4204.712_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-62133r4_fix)

This requirement is NA for Windows 8.1. The Photos app cannot be removed from Windows 8.1 systems. It is updated through normal OS patching mechanisms.

Maintain the Photos app with the latest security related updates or remove it from the system. Microsoft provides security related updates to default provisioned apps through the Microsoft Update Catalog for WSUS or as MSI files, as an alternate method to the Windows Store for updating.

Microsoft Article 2971128 summarizes security related updates to the default apps, including versions and release dates. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2971128

To remove the Photos app from the system:

Open a command prompt as an administrator.
Enter "dism /online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages".
Make note of the PackageName (e.g., microsoft.windowsphotos_16.4.4204.712_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.