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Microsoft OneNote 2016 Security Technical Implementation Guide

V2R1 · · · Released 05 Jan 2026 · 11 rules
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This Security Technical Implementation Guide is published as a tool to improve the security of Department of Defense (DOD) information systems. The requirements are derived from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 800-53 and related documents. Comments or proposed revisions to this document should be sent via email to the following address: disa.stig_spt@mail.mil.
Digest of Updates vs. V1R2 · 19 Jan 2017 +11 −10

Comparison against the immediately-prior release (V1R2). Rule matching uses the Group Vuln ID. Content-change detection compares the rule’s description, check, and fix text after stripping inline markup — cosmetic-only edits aren’t flagged.

Added rules 11

  • V-238044 Medium Disabling of user name and password syntax from being used in URLs must be enforced.
  • V-238045 Medium Enabling IE Bind to Object functionality must be present.
  • V-238046 Medium Saved from URL mark to assure Internet zone processing must be enforced.
  • V-238047 Medium Navigation to URLs embedded in Office products must be blocked.
  • V-238048 Medium Scripted Window Security must be enforced.
  • V-238049 Medium Add-on Management functionality must be allowed.
  • V-238050 Medium Links that invoke instances of Internet Explorer from within an Office product must be blocked.
  • V-238051 Medium File Downloads must be configured for proper restrictions.
  • V-238052 Medium Protection from zone elevation must be enforced.
  • V-238053 Medium ActiveX Installs must be configured for proper restriction.
  • V-279944 High The version of OneNote running on the system must be a supported version.

Removed rules 10

  • V-70829 Medium Disabling of user name and password syntax from being used in URLs must be enforced.
  • V-70831 Medium Enabling IE Bind to Object functionality must be present.
  • V-70833 Medium Saved from URL mark to assure Internet zone processing must be enforced.
  • V-70835 Medium Navigation to URLs embedded in Office products must be blocked.
  • V-70837 Medium Add-on Management functionality must be allowed.
  • V-70839 Medium Links that invoke instances of Internet Explorer from within an Office product must be blocked.
  • V-70841 Medium File Downloads must be configured for proper restrictions.
  • V-70843 Medium Protection from zone elevation must be enforced.
  • V-70845 Medium ActiveX Installs must be configured for proper restriction.
  • V-70847 Medium Scripted Window Security must be enforced.
Sort by
b
Disabling of user name and password syntax from being used in URLs must be enforced.
SC-18 - Medium - CCI-001170 - V-238044 - SV-238044r961092_rule
RMF Control
SC-18
Severity
M
CCI
CCI-001170
Version
DTOO104
Vuln IDs
  • V-238044
  • V-70829
Rule IDs
  • SV-238044r961092_rule
  • SV-85453
The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) standard allows user authentication to be included in URL strings in the form http://username:password@example.com. A malicious user might use this URL syntax to create a hyperlink that appears to open a legitimate website but actually opens a deceptive (spoofed) website. For example, the URL http://www.wingtiptoys.com@example.com 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 website). If user names and passwords in URLs are allowed, users could be diverted to dangerous Web pages, which could pose a security risk.
Checks: C-41254r650728_chk

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Disable user name and password" is set to "Enabled" and 'onent.exe' is checked. 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 onenote.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix: F-41213r650729_fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Disable user name and password" to "Enabled" and place a check in the 'onent.exe' check box.

b
Enabling IE Bind to Object functionality must be present.
SC-18 - Medium - CCI-001695 - V-238045 - SV-238045r960921_rule
RMF Control
SC-18
Severity
M
CCI
CCI-001695
Version
DTOO111
Vuln IDs
  • V-238045
  • V-70831
Rule IDs
  • SV-238045r960921_rule
  • SV-85455
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.
Checks: C-41255r650731_chk

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Bind to Object" is set to "Enabled" and 'onent.exe' is checked. 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 onenote.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix: F-41214r650732_fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Bind to Object" to "Enabled" and place a check in the 'onent.exe' check box.

b
Saved from URL mark to assure Internet zone processing must be enforced.
SC-18 - Medium - CCI-001170 - V-238046 - SV-238046r961092_rule
RMF Control
SC-18
Severity
M
CCI
CCI-001170
Version
DTOO117
Vuln IDs
  • V-238046
  • V-70833
Rule IDs
  • SV-238046r961092_rule
  • SV-85457
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.
Checks: C-41256r650734_chk

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Saved from URL" is set to "Enabled" and 'onent.exe' is checked. 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 onenote.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix: F-41215r650735_fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Saved from URL" to "Enabled" and place a check in the 'onent.exe' check box.

b
Navigation to URLs embedded in Office products must be blocked.
SC-18 - Medium - CCI-001170 - V-238047 - SV-238047r961092_rule
RMF Control
SC-18
Severity
M
CCI
CCI-001170
Version
DTOO123
Vuln IDs
  • V-238047
  • V-70835
Rule IDs
  • SV-238047r961092_rule
  • SV-85459
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.
Checks: C-41257r650737_chk

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Navigate URL" is set to "Enabled" and 'onent.exe' is checked. 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 onenote.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix: F-41216r650738_fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Navigate URL" to "Enabled" and place a check in the 'onent.exe' check box.

b
Scripted Window Security must be enforced.
SC-18 - Medium - CCI-001695 - V-238048 - SV-238048r960921_rule
RMF Control
SC-18
Severity
M
CCI
CCI-001695
Version
DTOO124
Vuln IDs
  • V-238048
  • V-70847
Rule IDs
  • SV-238048r960921_rule
  • SV-85471
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.
Checks: C-41258r650740_chk

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Scripted Window Security Restrictions" is set to "Enabled" and 'onent.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 onenote.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix: F-41217r650741_fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Scripted Window Security Restrictions" to "Enabled" and place a check in the 'onent.exe' check box.

b
Add-on Management functionality must be allowed.
SC-18 - Medium - CCI-001662 - V-238049 - SV-238049r961086_rule
RMF Control
SC-18
Severity
M
CCI
CCI-001662
Version
DTOO126
Vuln IDs
  • V-238049
  • V-70837
Rule IDs
  • SV-238049r961086_rule
  • SV-85461
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.
Checks: C-41259r650743_chk

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Add-on Management" is set to "Enabled" and 'onent.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 onenote.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix: F-41218r650744_fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Add-on Management" to "Enabled" and place a check in the 'onent.exe' check box.

b
Links that invoke instances of Internet Explorer from within an Office product must be blocked.
SC-18 - Medium - CCI-001662 - V-238050 - SV-238050r961086_rule
RMF Control
SC-18
Severity
M
CCI
CCI-001662
Version
DTOO129
Vuln IDs
  • V-238050
  • V-70839
Rule IDs
  • SV-238050r961086_rule
  • SV-85463
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.
Checks: C-41260r650746_chk

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Block popups" is set to "Enabled" and 'onent.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 onenote.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix: F-41219r650747_fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Block popups" to "Enabled" and place a check in the 'onent.exe' check box.

b
File Downloads must be configured for proper restrictions.
SC-18 - Medium - CCI-001169 - V-238051 - SV-238051r961089_rule
RMF Control
SC-18
Severity
M
CCI
CCI-001169
Version
DTOO132
Vuln IDs
  • V-238051
  • V-70841
Rule IDs
  • SV-238051r961089_rule
  • SV-85465
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 interaction 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.
Checks: C-41261r650749_chk

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Restrict File Download" is set to "Enabled" and 'onent.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 of onenote.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix: F-41220r650750_fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Restrict File Download" to "Enabled" and place a check in the 'onent.exe' check box.

b
Protection from zone elevation must be enforced.
SC-18 - Medium - CCI-001695 - V-238052 - SV-238052r960921_rule
RMF Control
SC-18
Severity
M
CCI
CCI-001695
Version
DTOO209
Vuln IDs
  • V-238052
  • V-70843
Rule IDs
  • SV-238052r960921_rule
  • SV-85467
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.
Checks: C-41262r650752_chk

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Protection From Zone Elevation" is set to "Enabled" and 'onent.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 onenote.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix: F-41221r650753_fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Protection From Zone Elevation" to "Enabled" and place a check in the 'onent.exe' check box.

b
ActiveX Installs must be configured for proper restriction.
SC-18 - Medium - CCI-002460 - V-238053 - SV-238053r961779_rule
RMF Control
SC-18
Severity
M
CCI
CCI-002460
Version
DTOO211
Vuln IDs
  • V-238053
  • V-70845
Rule IDs
  • SV-238053r961779_rule
  • SV-85469
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.
Checks: C-41263r650755_chk

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Restrict ActiveX Install" is set to "Enabled" and 'onent.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 onenote.exe is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix: F-41222r650756_fix

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine) -> Security Settings -> IE Security "Restrict ActiveX Install" to "Enabled" and place a check in the 'onent.exe' check box.

c
The version of OneNote running on the system must be a supported version.
SI-2 - High - CCI-002605 - V-279944 - SV-279944r1156581_rule
RMF Control
SI-2
Severity
H
CCI
CCI-002605
Version
DTO-OneNote999
Vuln IDs
  • V-279944
Rule IDs
  • SV-279944r1156581_rule
Security flaws with software applications are discovered daily. Vendors are constantly updating and patching their products to address newly discovered security vulnerabilities. Organizations (including any contractor to the organization) are required to promptly install security-relevant software updates (e.g., patches, service packs, and hot fixes). Flaws discovered during security assessments, continuous monitoring, incident response activities, or information system error handling must also be addressed expeditiously. Organization-defined time periods for updating security-relevant software may vary based on a variety of factors including, for example, the security category of the information system or the criticality of the update (i.e., severity of the vulnerability related to the discovered flaw). This requirement will apply to software patch management solutions that are used to install patches across the enclave and also to applications themselves that are not part of that patch management solution. For example, many browsers today provide the capability to install their own patch software. Patch criticality, as well as system criticality will vary. Therefore, the tactical situations regarding the patch management process will also vary. This means that the time period used must be a configurable parameter. Time frames for application of security-relevant software updates may be dependent upon the Information Assurance Vulnerability Management (IAVM) process. The application will be configured to check for and install security-relevant software updates within an identified time period from the availability of the update. The specific time period will be defined by an authoritative source (e.g., IAVM, CTOs, DTMs, and STIGs).
Checks: C-84505r1156579_chk

OneNote 2016 is no longer supported by the vendor. If the system is running OneNote 2016, this is a finding.

Fix: F-84410r1156580_fix

Upgrade to a supported version.