File validation in Word must be enabled.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-223418	O365-WD-000019	SV-223418r960921_rule		Medium

Description

This policy setting allows the file validation feature to be turned off. If this policy setting is enabled, file validation will be turned off. If this policy setting is disabled or not configured, file validation will be turned on. Office Binary Documents (97-2003) are checked to see if they conform to the file format schema before they are opened.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus Security Technical Implementation Guide	2025-03-05

Details

Check Text (C-25091r442473_chk)

Verify the policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Microsoft Word 2016 >> Word Options >> Security >> Turn off file validation is set to "Disabled".

Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key:

HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\word\security\filevalidation

If the value for enableonload is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-25079r442474_fix)

Set policy value for User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Microsoft Word 2016 >> Word Options >> Security >> Turn off file validation to "Disabled".