Windows Server 2019 Early Launch Antimalware, Boot-Start Driver Initialization Policy must prevent boot drivers identified as bad.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-205865 | WN19-CC-000130 | SV-205865r991589_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| Compromised boot drivers can introduce malware prior to protection mechanisms that load after initialization. The Early Launch Antimalware driver can limit allowed drivers based on classifications determined by the malware protection application. At a minimum, drivers determined to be bad must not be allowed. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2019 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-23 | |||
Related Frameworks
4 paths across 3 frameworks
Related Frameworks
NIST 800-531 mapping
CM-6
1.00
- DISA · 3 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
NIST 800-1712 mappings
3.4.1
1.00
- DISA · 3 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
3.4.2
1.00
- DISA · 3 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
CCI1 mapping
CCI-000366
1.00
- DISA · 3 · disa_xccdf · related
Details
Check Text (C-205865r991589_chk)
The default behavior is for Early Launch Antimalware - Boot-Start Driver Initialization policy to enforce "Good, unknown and bad but critical" (preventing "bad").
If the registry value name below does not exist, this is not a finding.
If it exists and is configured with a value of "0x00000007 (7)", this is a finding.
Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Policies\EarlyLaunch\
Value Name: DriverLoadPolicy
Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0x00000001 (1), 0x00000003 (3), or 0x00000008 (8) (or if the Value Name does not exist)
Possible values for this setting are:
8 - Good only
1 - Good and unknown
3 - Good, unknown and bad but critical
7 - All (which includes "bad" and would be a finding)
Fix Text (F-6130r355958_fix)
The default behavior is for Early Launch Antimalware - Boot-Start Driver Initialization policy to enforce "Good, unknown and bad but critical" (preventing "bad").
If this needs to be corrected or a more secure setting is desired, configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> System >> Early Launch Antimalware >> "Boot-Start Driver Initialization Policy" to "Not Configured" or "Enabled" with any option other than "All" selected.