Windows Server 2019 must have software certificate installation files removed.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-205852	WN19-00-000240	SV-205852r991589_rule		Medium

Description

Use of software certificates and their accompanying installation files for end users to access resources is less secure than the use of hardware-based certificates.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2019 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2025-05-23

Details

Check Text (C-6117r355918_chk)

Search all drives for *.p12 and *.pfx files.

If any files with these extensions exist, this is a finding.

This does not apply to server-based applications that have a requirement for .p12 certificate files or Adobe PreFlight certificate files. Some applications create files with extensions of .p12 that are not certificate installation files. Removal of non-certificate installation files from systems is not required. These must be documented with the ISSO.

Fix Text (F-6117r355919_fix)

Remove any certificate installation files (*.p12 and *.pfx) found on a system.

Note: This does not apply to server-based applications that have a requirement for .p12 certificate files or Adobe PreFlight certificate files.