Adobe Reader DC must disable the ability to change the Default Handler.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-64935	ARDC-CN-000050	SV-79425r2_rule		Low

Description
Allowing user to make changes to an application case cause a security risk. When the Default PDF Handler is disabled, the end users will not be able to change the default PDF viewer.

STIG	Date
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Continuous Track Security Technical Implementation Guide	2018-06-12

Details

Check Text ( C-65593r3_chk )
Verify the following registry configuration: Utilizing the Registry Editor, navigate to the following: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown Value Name: bDisablePDFHandlerSwitching Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 If the value for bDisablePDFHandlerSwitching is not set to “1” and Type configured to REG_DWORD or does not exist, then this is a finding. GUI path: Edit > Preferences > General > Verify the 'Select As Default PDF Handler' option is greyed out (locked). If the option is not greyed out, this is a finding. Admin Template path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Template > Adobe Reader DC Continuous > Preferences > General > 'Disable PDF handler switching' must be set to 'Enabled'. This policy setting requires the installation of the AcrobatDCContinuous custom templates included with the STIG package. "AcrobatDCContinuous.admx" and "AcrobatDCContinuous.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.

Check Text ( C-65593r3_chk )

Verify the following registry configuration:

Utilizing the Registry Editor, navigate to the following: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown

Value Name: bDisablePDFHandlerSwitching
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

If the value for bDisablePDFHandlerSwitching is not set to “1” and Type configured to REG_DWORD or does not exist, then this is a finding.

GUI path: Edit > Preferences > General > Verify the 'Select As Default PDF Handler' option is greyed out (locked). If the option is not greyed out, this is a finding.

Admin Template path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Template > Adobe Reader DC Continuous > Preferences > General > 'Disable PDF handler switching' must be set to 'Enabled'.

This policy setting requires the installation of the AcrobatDCContinuous custom templates included with the STIG package. "AcrobatDCContinuous.admx" and "AcrobatDCContinuous.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.

Fix Text (F-70875r3_fix)
Configure the following registry value: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown Value Name: bDisablePDFHandlerSwitching Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration > Administrative Template > Adobe Reader DC Continuous > Preferences > General > 'Disable PDF handler switching' to 'Enabled'. This policy setting requires the installation of the AcrobatDCContinuous custom templates included with the STIG package. "AcrobatDCContinuous.admx" and "AcrobatDCContinuous.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.

Fix Text (F-70875r3_fix)

Configure the following registry value:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \Software\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown

Value Name: bDisablePDFHandlerSwitching
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration > Administrative Template > Adobe Reader DC Continuous > Preferences > General > 'Disable PDF handler switching' to 'Enabled'.

This policy setting requires the installation of the AcrobatDCContinuous custom templates included with the STIG package. "AcrobatDCContinuous.admx" and "AcrobatDCContinuous.adml" must be copied to the \Windows\PolicyDefinitions and \Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-US directories respectively.