Windows Server 2025 must be configured for name-based strong mappings for certificates.

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-278173WN25-DC-000406SV-278173r1182146_ruleCCI-000213medium
Description
Weak mappings give rise to security vulnerabilities and demand hardening measures. Certificate names must be correctly mapped to the intended user account in Active Directory. A lack of strong name-based mappings allows certain weak certificate mappings, such as Issuer/Subject AltSecID and User Principal Names (UPN) mappings, to be treated as strong mappings.
STIGDate
Microsoft Windows Server 2025 Security Technical Implementation Guide2026-02-20

Details

Check Text (C-278173r1182146_chk)

This applies to domain controllers. This is not applicable for member servers. Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor. Run gpedit.msc. Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Administrative Template >> System >> KDC >> Allow name-based strong mappings for certificates. If "Allow name-based strong mappings for certificates" is not "Enabled", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-82608r1181931_fix)

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Template >> System >> KDC >> Allow name-based strong mappings for certificates to "Enabled". The policy must contain exactly one certificate thumbprint per rule, with each rule represented as a tuple. Thumbprints must be unique and cannot be repeated in multiple rules. The sections of each tuple that are separated by semi-colons must be in the stated order, while the fields separated by commas can be in any order. The rules themselves are separated by new lines.