User-installed gadgets must be turned off.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-15726	5.252	SV-25269r2_rule		Medium

Description
Uncontrolled installation of applications can introduce various issues, including system instability, and allow access to sensitive information. Installation of applications must be controlled by the enterprise. This setting prevents user-installed gadgets from running.

STIG	Date
Windows 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2017-02-21

Details

Check Text ( C-57973r2_chk )
If Desktop Gadgets have been disabled, this is NA. Verify the following registry value to determine if Desktop Gadgets have been disabled: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar\ Value Name: TurnOffSidebar Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1 If Desktop Gadgets have not been disabled and the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar\ Value Name: TurnOffUserInstalledGadgets Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1

Check Text ( C-57973r2_chk )

If Desktop Gadgets have been disabled, this is NA.
Verify the following registry value to determine if Desktop Gadgets have been disabled:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar\

Value Name: TurnOffSidebar

Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

If Desktop Gadgets have not been disabled and the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Windows\Sidebar\

Value Name: TurnOffUserInstalledGadgets

Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

Fix Text (F-62297r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Desktop Gadgets - > "Turn Off user-installed desktop gadgets" to "Enabled". To turn off Desktop Gadgets completely, configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Desktop Gadgets -> "Turn off desktop gadgets" to "Enabled".