Microsoft Windows Server 2016

Software certificate installation files must be removed from Windows Server 2016

STIG ID: WN16-00-000270 | SRG: SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227 | Severity: Medium | CCI: CCI-000366 | Vulnerability ID: V-224842

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.

Check

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

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.