Details

Disabling this setting allows websites to present file download prompts via code without the user specifically initiating the download. User preferences may also allow the download to occur without prompting or interacting with the user. Even if Internet Explorer prompts the user to accept the download, some websites abuse this functionality. Malicious websites may continually prompt users to download a file or present confusing dialog boxes to trick users into downloading or running a file. If the download occurs and it contains malicious code, the code could become active on user computers or the network.

Solution

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security ‘Restrict File Download’ to ‘Enabled’ and select ‘outlook.exe’.

Supportive Information

The following resource is also helpful.

• https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_MS_Outlook_2010_V1R13_STIG.zip

This security hardening control applies to the following category of controls within NIST 800-53: System and Communications Protection.This control applies to the following type of system Windows.

References

• 800-53|SC-18(3)
• CAT|II
• CCI|CCI-001169
• CSCv6|3.1
• Rule-ID|SV-33800r1_rule
• STIG-ID|DTOO132
• Vuln-ID|V-26587

Source

• Tenable.com/audits