WDigest Authentication must be disabled.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-72753	WN12-CC-000150	SV-87391r1_rule		Medium

Description
When the WDigest Authentication protocol is enabled, plain text passwords are stored in the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) exposing them to theft. This setting will prevent WDigest from storing credentials in memory.

STIG	Date
Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 Member Server Security Technical Implementation Guide	2019-03-13

Details

Check Text ( C-72901r1_chk )
If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding. Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\Wdigest\ Value Name: UseLogonCredential Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0x00000000 (0) Note: Microsoft Security Advisory update 2871997 is required for this setting to be effective on Windows 2012. It is not required for Windows 2012 R2.

Check Text ( C-72901r1_chk )

If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding.

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\Wdigest\

Value Name: UseLogonCredential

Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0x00000000 (0)

Note: Microsoft Security Advisory update 2871997 is required for this setting to be effective on Windows 2012. It is not required for Windows 2012 R2.

Fix Text (F-79163r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> MS Security Guide >> "WDigest Authentication (disabling may require KB2871997)" to "Disabled". Note: Microsoft Security Advisory update 2871997 is required for this setting to be effective on Windows 2012. It is not required for Windows 2012 R2. This policy setting requires the installation of the SecGuide custom templates included with the STIG package. "SecGuide.admx" and "SecGuide.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.

Fix Text (F-79163r1_fix)

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> MS Security Guide >> "WDigest Authentication (disabling may require KB2871997)" to "Disabled".

Note: Microsoft Security Advisory update 2871997 is required for this setting to be effective on Windows 2012. It is not required for Windows 2012 R2.

This policy setting requires the installation of the SecGuide custom templates included with the STIG package. "SecGuide.admx" and "SecGuide.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.