The Windows Explorer Preview pane must be disabled for Windows 2012.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-102619	WN12-CC-000142	SV-111569r1_rule		Medium

Description
A known vulnerability in Windows could allow the execution of malicious code by either opening a compromised document or viewing it in the Windows Preview pane. Organizations must disable the Windows Preview pane and Windows Detail pane.

STIG	Date
Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 Member Server Security Technical Implementation Guide	2020-06-16

Details

Check Text ( C-101357r5_chk )
If the following registry values do not exist or are not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer Value Name: NoPreviewPane Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 Registry Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer Value Name: NoReadingPane Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1

Check Text ( C-101357r5_chk )

If the following registry values do not exist or are not configured as specified, this is a finding:

Registry Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Value Name: NoPreviewPane

Value Type: REG_DWORD

Value: 1

Registry Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Value Name: NoReadingPane

Value Type: REG_DWORD

Value: 1

Fix Text (F-108151r3_fix)
Ensure the following settings are configured for Windows 2012 locally or applied through group policy. Configure the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> File Explorer >> Explorer Frame Pane "Turn off Preview Pane" to "Enabled". Configure the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> File Explorer >> Explorer Frame Pane "Turn on or off details pane" to "Enabled" and "Configure details pane" to "Always hide".

Fix Text (F-108151r3_fix)

Ensure the following settings are configured for Windows 2012 locally or applied through group policy.

Configure the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> File Explorer >> Explorer Frame Pane "Turn off Preview Pane" to "Enabled".

Configure the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> File Explorer >> Explorer Frame Pane "Turn on or off details pane" to "Enabled" and "Configure details pane" to "Always hide".