The Internet File Association service must be turned off.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-15674	WN12-CC-000038	SV-53021r1_rule	ECSC-1	Medium

Description
Some features may communicate with the vendor, sending system information or downloading data or components for the feature. Turning off this capability will prevent potentially sensitive information from being sent outside the enterprise and uncontrolled updates to the system. This setting prevents unhandled file associations from using the Microsoft Web service to find an application.

STIG	Date
Windows Server 2012 Member Server Security Technical Implementation Guide	2014-01-07

Details

Check Text ( C-47327r2_chk )
If 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\Explorer\ Value Name: NoInternetOpenWith Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1

Fix Text (F-45947r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Internet Communication Management -> Internet Communication settings -> "Turn off Internet File Association service" to "Enabled".