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Media Player will be configured to prevent automatic Codec downloads.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-3481 5.061 SV-32351r1_rule Medium
Description
The Windows Media Player uses software components, referred to as Codecs, to play back media files. By default, when an unknown file type is opened with the Media Player it will search the Internet for the appropriate Codec and automatically download it. To ensure platform consistency and to protect against new vulnerabilities associated with media types, all Codecs must be installed by the System Administrator.
STIG Date
Windows Server 2008 R2 Member Server Security Technical Implementation Guide 2019-03-13

Details

Check Text ( C-32898r1_chk )
If the following registry value doesn’t exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding:

Registry Hive: HKEY_Current_User
Subkey: \Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer\

Value Name: PreventCodecDownload

Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1
Fix Text (F-5993r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Media Player -> Playback “Prevent Codec Download” to “Enabled”.