Microsoft Access 2010

Discussion

The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) standard allows user authentication to be included in URL strings in the form http://username:[email protected] A malicious user might use this URL syntax to create a hyperlink that appears to open a legitimate Web site but actually opens a deceptive (spoofed) Web site. For example, the URL http://[email protected] appears to open http://www.wingtiptoys.com but actually opens http://example.com. To protect users from such attacks, Internet Explorer usually blocks any URLs using this syntax. This functionality can be controlled separately for instances of Internet Explorer spawned by Office applications (for example, if a user clicks a link in an Office document or selects a menu option that loads a Web page). If user names and passwords in URLs are allowed, users could be diverted to dangerous Web pages, which could pose a security risk. System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Disable user name and password” must be “Enabled” and a check in the ‘msaccess.exe’ check box must be present. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_HTTP_USERNAME_PASSWORD_DISABLE Criteria: If the value msaccess.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Disable user name and password” to “Enabled” and place a check in the ‘msaccess.exe’ check box.

Discussion

Internet Explorer performs a number of safety checks before initializing an ActiveX control. It will not initialize a control if the kill bit for the control is set in the registry, or if the security settings for the zone in which the control is located do not allow it to be initialized. This functionality can be controlled separately for instances of Internet Explorer spawned by Office applications (for example, if a user clicks a link in an Office document or selects a menu option that loads a Web page). A security risk could occur if potentially dangerous controls are allowed to load. System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Bind to Object” must be “Enabled” and a check in the ‘msaccess.exe’ check box must be present. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_SAFE_BINDTOOBJECT Criteria: If the value msaccess.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Bind to Object” to “Enabled” and place a check in the ‘msaccess.exe’ check box.

Discussion

Typically, when Internet Explorer loads a Web page from a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) share that contains a Mark of the Web (MOTW) comment, indicating the page was saved from a site on the Internet, Internet Explorer runs the page in the Internet security zone instead of the less restrictive Local Intranet security zone. This functionality can be controlled separately for instances of Internet Explorer spawned by Office applications (for example, if a user clicks a link in an Office document or selects a menu option that loads a Web page). If Internet Explorer does not evaluate the page for a MOTW, potentially dangerous code could be allowed to run.System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Saved from URL” must be “Enabled” and a check in the ‘msaccess.exe’ check box must be present. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_UNC_SAVEDFILECHECK Criteria: If the value msaccess.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Saved from URL” to “Enabled” and place a check in the ‘msaccess.exe’ check box.

Discussion

To protect users from attacks, Internet Explorer usually does not attempt to load malformed URLs. This functionality can be controlled separately for instances of Internet Explorer spawned by Office applications (for example, if a user clicks a link in an Office document or selects a menu option that loads a Web page). If Internet Explorer attempts to load a malformed URL, a security risk could occur in some cases.System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Navigate URL” must be “Enabled” and a check in the ‘msaccess.exe’ check box must be present. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_VALIDATE_NAVIGATE_URL Criteria: If the value msaccess.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Navigate URL” to “Enabled” and place a check in the ‘msaccess.exe’ check box.

Discussion

The Pop-up Blocker feature in Internet Explorer can be used to block most unwanted pop-up and pop-under windows from appearing. This functionality can be controlled separately for instances of Internet Explorer spawned by Office applications (for example, if a user clicks a link in an Office document or selects a menu option that loads a Web page). If the Pop-up Blocker is disabled, disruptive and potentially dangerous pop-up windows could load and present a security risk.System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Block popups” must be “Enabled” and ‘msaccess.exe’ is checked. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_WEBOC_POPUPMANAGEMENT Criteria: If the value msaccess.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Block popups” to “Enabled” and select ‘msaccess.exe’.

Discussion

If an application is configured to require all add-ins be signed by a trusted publisher, any unsigned add-ins the application loads will be disabled and the application will display the Trust Bar at the top of the active window. The Trust Bar contains a message informing users about the unsigned add-in.System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010 -> Application Settings -> Security -> Trust Center “Disable Trust Bar Notification for unsigned application add-ins and block them” must be “Enabled”. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\14.0\access\security Criteria: If the value NoTBPromptUnsignedAddin is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010 -> Application Settings -> Security -> Trust Center “Disable Trust Bar Notification for unsigned application add-ins and block them” to “Enabled”.

Discussion

When users open files containing VBA Macros, applications open the files with the macros disabled and displays the Trust Bar with a warning that macros are present and have been disabled. Users may then enable these macros by clicking Options on the Trust Bar and selecting the option to enable them. Disabling or not configuring this setting may allow dangerous macros to become active on user computers or the network. System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010-> Application Settings -> Security -> Trust Center “VBA Macro Notification Settings” must be “Enabled (Disabled all with notifications)”. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\14.0\access\security Criteria: If the value VBAWarnings is REG_DWORD = 2, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010 -> Application Settings -> Security -> Trust Center “VBA Macro Warning Settings” to “Enabled (Disabled all with notifications)”.

Discussion

When users create new database files, Access saves them in the new Access format. Users can change this functionality by clicking the Office button, clicking Access Options, and then selecting a file format from the Default file format list. If a new database is created in an inappropriate format, some users might be unable to open or use it. System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010 -> Miscellaneous “Default File Format” must be set to “Enabled (Access 2007)”. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\14.0\access\settings Criteria: If the value Default File Format is REG_DWORD = 0x0000000c (hex) or 12 (Decimal), this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010 -> Miscellaneous “Default File Format” to “Enabled (Access 2007)”.

Discussion

When users open databases that were created in the Access 97 file format, Access 2010 prompts them to convert the database to a newer file format. Users can choose to convert the database or leave it in the older format. Disabling this setting enforces Access 2010 to prompt the users, and is therefore unlikely to cause usability issues.System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010 -> Miscellaneous “Do not prompt to convert older databases” must be “Disabled”. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\14.0\access\settings Criteria: If the value NoConvertDialog is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010 -> Miscellaneous “Do not prompt to convert older databases” to “Disabled”.

Discussion

When users open an untrusted Access 2010 database that contains user-programmed executable components, Access opens the database with the components disabled and displays the Message Bar with a warning that database content has been disabled. Users can inspect the contents of the database, but cannot use any disabled functionality until they enable it by clicking Options on the Message Bar and selecting the appropriate action. The default configuration can be changed so that users see a dialog box when they open an untrusted database with executable components. Users must then choose whether to enable or disable the components before working with the database. In these circumstances users frequently enable the components, even if they do not require them. Executable components can be used to launch an attack against a computer environment. Disabling this setting enforces Access 2010 to display the action items, so is unlikely to cause usability issues. System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010 -> Tools \ Security “Modal Trust Decision Only” must be “Disabled”. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\14.0\access\security Criteria: If the value ModalTrustDecisionOnly is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010 -> Tools \ Security “Modal Trust Decision Only” to “Disabled”.

Discussion

Access underlines hyperlinks that appear in tables, queries, forms, and reports. If this configuration is changed, users might click on dangerous hyperlinks without realizing it, which could pose a security riskSystem AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010-> Application Settings -> Web Options... -> General “Underline Hyperlinks” must be “Enabled”. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\14.0\access\internet Criteria: If the value DoNotUnderlineHyperlinks is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010 -> Application Settings -> Web Options... -> General “Underline Hyperlinks” to “Enabled”.

Discussion

Internet Explorer add-ons are pieces of code, run in Internet Explorer, to provide additional functionality. Rogue add-ons may contain viruses or other malicious code. Disabling or not configuring this setting could allow malicious code or users to become active on user computers or the network. For example, a malicious user can monitor and then use keystrokes users type into Internet Explorer. Even legitimate add-ons may demand resources, compromising the performance of Internet Explorer, and the operating systems for user computers.System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Add-on Management” must be set to “Enabled” and ‘msaccess.exe’ is checked. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_ADDON_MANAGEMENT Criteria: If the value msaccess.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Add-on Management” to “Enabled” and ‘msaccess.exe’ is checked.

Discussion

Internet Explorer places restrictions on each web page users can use the browser to open. Web pages on a user's local computer have the fewest security restrictions and reside in the Local Machine zone, making this security zone a prime target for malicious users and code. Disabling or not configuring this setting could allow pages in the Internet zone to navigate to pages in the Local Machine zone to then run code to elevate privileges. This could allow malicious code or users to become active on user computers or the network. System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Protection From Zone Elevation” must be set to “Enabled” and 'msaccess.exe' is checked. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_ZONE_ELEVATION Criteria: If the value msaccess.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Protection From Zone Elevation” to “Enabled” and 'msaccess.exe' is checked.

Discussion

Microsoft ActiveX controls allow unmanaged, unprotected code to run on the user computers. ActiveX controls do not run within a protected container in the browser like the other types of HTML or Microsoft Silverlight-based controls. Disabling or not configuring this setting does not block prompts for ActiveX control installations and these prompts display to users. This could allow malicious code to become active on user computers or the network. System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Restrict ActiveX Install” must be set to “Enabled” and 'msaccess.exe' is checked. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_RESTRICT_ACTIVEXINSTALL Criteria: If the value msaccess.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Restrict ActiveX Install” to “Enabled” and 'msaccess.exe' is checked.

Discussion

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. System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Restrict File Download” must be set to “Enabled” and 'msaccess.exe' is checked. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_RESTRICT_FILEDOWNLOAD Criteria: If the value msaccess.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Restrict File Download” to “Enabled” and 'msaccess.exe' is checked.

Discussion

Malicious websites often try to confuse or trick users into giving a site permission to perform an action allowing the site to take control of the users' computers in some manner. Disabling or not configuring this setting allows unknown websites to: -Create browser windows appearing to be from the local operating system. -Draw active windows displaying outside of the viewable areas of the screen capturing keyboard input. -Overlay parent windows with their own browser windows to hide important system information, choices or prompts. System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Scripted Window Security Restrictions” must be set to “Enabled” and 'msaccess.exe' is checked. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_WINDOW_RESTRICTIONS Criteria: If the value msaccess.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security “Scripted Window Security Restrictions” to “Enabled” and 'msaccess.exe' is checked.

Discussion

Office 2010 applications do not check the digital signature on application add-ins before opening them. Disabling or not configuring this setting may allow an application to load a dangerous add-in. As a result, malicious code could become active on user computers or the network.System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010 -> Application Settings -> Security -> Trust Center “Require that application add-ins are signed by Trusted Publisher” must be set to “Enabled”. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\14.0\access\security Criteria: If the value RequireAddinSig is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010 -> Application Settings -> Security -> Trust Center “Require that application add-ins are signed by Trusted Publisher” to “Enabled”.

Discussion

Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is a set of hardware and software technologies performing additional checks on memory to help prevent malicious code from running on a system. The primary benefit of DEP is to help prevent code execution from data pages. Enabling this setting, turns off Data Execution Prevention. As a result, malicious code takes advantage of code injection or buffer overflow vulnerabilities possibly exploiting the computer.System AdministratorInformation Assurance Officer

Checks

The policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010 -> Application Settings -> Security -> Trust Center “Turn off Data Execution Prevention” must be set to “Disabled”. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\14.0\access\security Criteria: If the value EnableDEP is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix

Set the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Access 2010 -> Application Settings -> Security -> Trust Center “Turn off Data Execution Prevention” to “Disabled”.