Microsoft Windows 11

Reversible password encryption must be disabled

STIG ID: WN11-AC-000045 |   SRG: SRG-OS-000073-GPOS-00041 |   Severity: High |   CCI: CCI-004062,CCI-000196 |   Vulnerability ID: V-253305

Description

Storing passwords using reversible encryption is essentially the same as storing clear-text versions of the passwords. For this reason, this policy must never be enabled.

Check

C-56758r828997_chk

Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor.Run "gpedit.msc".Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy.If the value for "Store password using reversible encryption" is not set to "Disabled", this is a finding.

Fix

F-56708r828998_fix

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy >> "Store passwords using reversible encryption" to "Disabled".