Text in Outlook that represents Internet and network paths must not be automatically turned into hyperlinks.

From Microsoft Outlook 2013 STIG

Part of DTOO425 - Disable Internet and network path into hyperlinks

Associated with: CCI-000366

SV-54069r1_rule Text in Outlook that represents Internet and network paths must not be automatically turned into hyperlinks.

Vulnerability discussion

The ability of Outlook to automatically turn text that represents Internet and network paths into hyperlinks would allow users to click on those hyperlinks in email message and access malicious or otherwise harmful websites.

Check content

Verify the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Outlook 2013 -> Outlook Options -> "Internet and network path into hyperlinks" is set to "Disabled". Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\software\policies\Microsoft\office\15.0\outlook\options\autoformat Criteria: If the value pgrfafo_25_1 is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding.

Fix text

Set the policy User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Outlook 2013 -> Outlook Options -> "Internet and network path into hyperlinks" must be set to "Disabled".

Pro Tips

Lavender hyperlinks in small type off to the right (of CSS class id, if you view the page source) point to globally unique URIs for each document and item. Copy the link location and paste anywhere you need to talk unambiguously about these things.

You can obtain data about documents and items in other formats. Simply provide an HTTP header Accept: text/turtle or Accept: application/rdf+xml.