TMA-OFFICE-2.1.1.3.2.2

Ensure 'Block macros from running in Office files from the internet' is set to 'Enabled'

HighLevel 1Automatedoffice

Description

This policy setting allows the blocking of macros from running in Office files that come from the internet. By enabling this policy setting, macros are blocked from running, even if "Enable all macros" is selected in the Macro Settings section of the Trust Center. Users will receive a notification that macros are blocked from running. Rationale: Windows marks files downloaded from the internet using an alternate NTFS data stream. Files from untrusted sources can contain malicious payloads embedded in macros that may compromise the system on which they are run. User setting: the audit checks HKEY_USERS\<SID>\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\access\security:blockcontentexecutionfrominternet (REG_DWORD) in every loaded user hive (S-1-5-21-*) and is compliant when each holds 1. It prints 'no-user-hive-loaded' (FAIL) when no user profile is loaded, so scan while users are logged on.

How it is checked

Audit method: Windows registry

registry

$sids = @(Get-ChildItem -Path 'Registry::HKEY_USERS' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Where-Object { $_.PSChildName -match '^S-1-5-21-\d+-\d+-\d+-\d+$' } | ForEach-Object { $_.PSChildName }); if ($sids.Count -eq 0) { 'no-user-hive-loaded' } else { $bad = @(); foreach ($s in $sids) { $v = (Get-ItemProperty -Path ('Registry::HKEY_USERS\' + $s + '\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\access\security') -Name 'blockcontentexecutionfrominternet' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).'blockcontentexecutionfrominternet'; if (-not ($null -ne $v -and @(1) -contains [int64]$v)) { $bad += $s + ':blockcontentexecutionfrominternet=' + $v } }; if ($bad.Count -eq 0) { 'compliant' } else { 'non-compliant: ' + ($bad -join ', ') } }

Expected output: compliant

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

Configure through Group Policy (User Configuration): User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Access 2016\Application Settings\Security\Trust Center\Block macros from running in Office files from the internet = Enabled

Properties

Operating systems: Any
Tags: officeproductivitycis-l1
Reference: CIS Microsoft Office Enterprise Benchmark v2.0.0 - 2.1.1.3.2.2 Ensure 'Block macros from running in Office files from the internet' is set to 'Enabled'

Check this host

Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.

shell

tmaegis scan --target office