This check verifies that Windows is configured to have password protection take effect within a limited time frame when the screen saver becomes active.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-4442	5.102	SV-4442r1_rule	PESL-1	Low

Description
Allowing more than several seconds makes the computer vulnerable to a potential attack from someone walking up to the console to attempt to log onto the system before the lock takes effect.

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

Details

Check Text ( C-32758r1_chk )
Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in. Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view. Navigate to Local Policies -> Security Options. If the value for “MSS: (ScreenSaverGracePeriod) The time in seconds before the screen saver grace period expires (0 recommended)” is not set to “5” or less, then this is a finding. The policy referenced configures the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\ Value Name: ScreenSaverGracePeriod Value Type: REG_SZ Value: 5 (or less)

Check Text ( C-32758r1_chk )

Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in.
Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view.
Navigate to Local Policies -> Security Options.

If the value for “MSS: (ScreenSaverGracePeriod) The time in seconds before the screen saver grace period expires (0 recommended)” is not set to “5” or less, then this is a finding.

The policy referenced configures the following registry value:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\

Value Name: ScreenSaverGracePeriod

Value Type: REG_SZ
Value: 5 (or less)

Fix Text (F-28833r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> “MSS: (ScreenSaverGracePeriod) The time in seconds before the screen saver grace period expires (0 recommended)” to “5” or less.