Local firewall rules for the Windows Firewall must not be merged with group policy rules for the Domain Profile.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-17422	5.457	SV-18478r2_rule	ECSC-1	Medium

Description
A firewall provides a line of defense against attack. To be effective, it must be enabled and properly configured. Merging local firewall rules with group policy firewall rules may weaken intended group policy firewall configurations.

STIG	Date
Windows Vista Security Technical Implementation Guide	2013-10-01

Details

Check Text ( C-45365r1_chk )
If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Subkey: \Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\DomainProfile\ Value Name: AllowLocalPolicyMerge Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0 If the Windows Firewall is used and the system is not a member of a domain, the Domain Profile requirements can be marked NA. If a third-party firewall is used, verify a comparable setting has been implemented. The Remote Endpoint STIG contains additional firewall requirements for systems used remotely.

Check Text ( C-45365r1_chk )

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

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Subkey: \Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\DomainProfile\

Value Name: AllowLocalPolicyMerge

Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0

If the Windows Firewall is used and the system is not a member of a domain, the Domain Profile requirements can be marked NA.

If a third-party firewall is used, verify a comparable setting has been implemented.

The Remote Endpoint STIG contains additional firewall requirements for systems used remotely.

Fix Text (F-41930r2_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Windows Firewall with Advanced Security -> Windows Firewall with Advanced Security -> Windows Firewall Properties (this link will be in the right pane) -> Domain Profile Tab -> Settings (select Customize) -> Rule merging, "Apply local firewall rules" to "No". Configure a comparable setting if a third-party firewall is used.

Fix Text (F-41930r2_fix)

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Windows Firewall with Advanced Security -> Windows Firewall with Advanced Security -> Windows Firewall Properties (this link will be in the right pane) -> Domain Profile Tab -> Settings (select Customize) -> Rule merging, "Apply local firewall rules" to "No".

Configure a comparable setting if a third-party firewall is used.