Software certificate installation files must be removed from Windows 11.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-253280	WN11-00-000130	SV-253280r991589_rule		Medium

Description

Use of software certificates and their accompanying installation files for end users to access resources is less secure than the use of hardware-based certificates.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows 11 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-09-12

Details

Check Text (C-56733r828922_chk)

Search all drives for *.p12 and *.pfx files.

If any files with these extensions exist, this is a finding.

This does not apply to server-based applications that have a requirement for .p12 certificate files (e.g., Oracle Wallet Manager) or Adobe PreFlight certificate files. Some applications create files with extensions of .p12 that are not certificate installation files. Removal of non-certificate installation files from systems is not required. These must be documented with the ISSO.

Fix Text (F-56683r828923_fix)

Remove any certificate installation files (*.p12 and *.pfx) found on a system.

Note: This does not apply to server-based applications that have a requirement for .p12 certificate files (e.g., Oracle Wallet Manager) or Adobe PreFlight certificate files.