The system must be configured to have password protection take effect within a limited time frame when the screen saver becomes active.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-4442	WN08-SO-000046	SV-48128r1_rule	PESL-1	Low

Description
Allowing more than several seconds makes the computer vulnerable to a potential attack from someone walking up to the console to attempt to log onto the system before the lock takes effect.

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

Details

Check Text ( C-44854r1_chk )
Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in. (See "Performing Analysis with the Security Configuration and Analysis Snap-in" in the STIG Overview document.) Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view. Navigate to Local Policies -> Security Options. (See "Updating the Windows Security Options File" in the STIG Overview document if MSS settings are not visible in the system's policy tools.) If the value for "MSS: (ScreenSaverGracePeriod) The time in seconds before the screen saver grace period expires (0 recommended)" is not set to "5" or less, this is a finding. The policy referenced configures the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\ Value Name: ScreenSaverGracePeriod Value Type: REG_SZ Value: 5 (or less)

Check Text ( C-44854r1_chk )

Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in. (See "Performing Analysis with the Security Configuration and Analysis Snap-in" in the STIG Overview document.)
Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view.
Navigate to Local Policies -> Security Options.

(See "Updating the Windows Security Options File" in the STIG Overview document if MSS settings are not visible in the system's policy tools.)

If the value for "MSS: (ScreenSaverGracePeriod) The time in seconds before the screen saver grace period expires (0 recommended)" is not set to "5" or less, this is a finding.

The policy referenced configures the following registry value:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\

Value Name: ScreenSaverGracePeriod

Value Type: REG_SZ
Value: 5 (or less)

Fix Text (F-41265r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> "MSS: (ScreenSaverGracePeriod) The time in seconds before the screen saver grace period expires (0 recommended)" to "5" or less.