The operating system must employ a deny-all, permit-by-exception policy to allow the execution of authorized software programs.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-57637	WN12-00-000018	SV-72047r2_rule		Medium

Description
Utilizing a whitelist provides a configuration management method for allowing the execution of only authorized software. Using only authorized software decreases risk by limiting the number of potential vulnerabilities. The organization must identify authorized software programs and only permit execution of authorized software. The process used to identify software programs that are authorized to execute on organizational information systems is commonly referred to as whitelisting.

Description

Utilizing a whitelist provides a configuration management method for allowing the execution of only authorized software. Using only authorized software decreases risk by limiting the number of potential vulnerabilities. The organization must identify authorized software programs and only permit execution of authorized software. The process used to identify software programs that are authorized to execute on organizational information systems is commonly referred to as whitelisting.

STIG	Date
Windows Server 2012 / 2012 R2 Member Server Security Technical Implementation Guide	2015-06-16

Details

Check Text ( C-61803r2_chk )
This will be upgraded to a CAT I severity in a next release (Oct). This is applicable to unclassified systems, for other systems this is NA. Verify the operating system employs a deny-all, permit-by-exception policy to allow the execution of authorized software programs. If it does not, this is a finding. Configuration of whitelisting applications will vary by the program. AppLocker is a whitelisting application built in to Windows 2012. If AppLocker is used, at a minimum, the default policies must be enabled, which restrict programs allowed to execute to well-known locations, including the Windows system. If AppLocker is used, perform the following to view the configuration of AppLocker: Open PowerShell. Execute the following command, substituting [c:\temp\file.xml] with a location and file name appropriate for the system. Get-AppLockerPolicy -Effective \| Set-Content ('c:\temp\file.xml') This will produce an xml file with the effective settings that can be viewed in a browser or opened in a program such as Excel for review.

Check Text ( C-61803r2_chk )

This will be upgraded to a CAT I severity in a next release (Oct).

This is applicable to unclassified systems, for other systems this is NA.

Verify the operating system employs a deny-all, permit-by-exception policy to allow the execution of authorized software programs. If it does not, this is a finding.

Configuration of whitelisting applications will vary by the program. AppLocker is a whitelisting application built in to Windows 2012. If AppLocker is used, at a minimum, the default policies must be enabled, which restrict programs allowed to execute to well-known locations, including the Windows system.

If AppLocker is used, perform the following to view the configuration of AppLocker:
Open PowerShell.
Execute the following command, substituting [c:\temp\file.xml] with a location and file name appropriate for the system.
Get-AppLockerPolicy -Effective | Set-Content ('c:\temp\file.xml')
This will produce an xml file with the effective settings that can be viewed in a browser or opened in a program such as Excel for review.

Fix Text (F-66567r1_fix)
This is applicable to unclassified systems, for other systems this is NA. Configure the operating system to employ a deny-all, permit-by-exception policy to allow the execution of authorized software programs. Configuration of whitelisting applications will vary by the program. AppLocker is a whitelisting application built in to Windows 2012. If AppLocker is used, at a minimum, enable the default policies, which restrict programs allowed to execute to well-known locations, including the Windows system. If AppLocker is used, it is configured through group policy in Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Application Control Policies >> AppLocker.

Fix Text (F-66567r1_fix)

This is applicable to unclassified systems, for other systems this is NA.

Configure the operating system to employ a deny-all, permit-by-exception policy to allow the execution of authorized software programs.

Configuration of whitelisting applications will vary by the program. AppLocker is a whitelisting application built in to Windows 2012. If AppLocker is used, at a minimum, enable the default policies, which restrict programs allowed to execute to well-known locations, including the Windows system.

If AppLocker is used, it is configured through group policy in Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Application Control Policies >> AppLocker.