Windows Server 2022 must have software certificate installation files removed.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-254261	WN22-00-000240	SV-254261r991589_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 2022 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2025-05-15

Details

Check Text (C-57746r848597_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 noncertificate installation files from systems is not required. These must be documented with the Information System Security Officer (ISSO).

Fix Text (F-57697r848598_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.