File downloads must be disallowed (Restricted Sites zone).

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-223060	DTBI119-IE11	SV-223060r879587_rule		Medium

Description

Sites located in the Restricted Sites Zone are more likely to contain malicious payloads and therefore downloads from this zone should be blocked. Files should not be able to be downloaded from sites that are considered restricted. This policy setting allows you to manage whether file downloads are permitted from the zone. This option is determined by the zone of the page with the link causing the download, not the zone from which the file is delivered.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-12-01

Details

Check Text (C-24733r428730_chk)

The policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Security Page -> Restricted Sites Zone -> 'Allow file downloads' must be 'Enabled', and 'Disable' selected from the drop-down box. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4 Criteria: If the value "1803" is REG_DWORD = 3, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-24721r428731_fix)

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Internet Control Panel -> Security Page -> Restricted Sites Zone -> 'Allow file downloads' to 'Enabled', and select 'Disable' from the drop-down box.