The encryption type for password protected Office 97 thru Office 2003 must be set.

From Microsoft Office System 2010 STIG

Part of DTOO190 - Encr. type for Password Protected files

Associated with: CCI-001199

SV-33457r2_rule The encryption type for password protected Office 97 thru Office 2003 must be set.

Vulnerability discussion

If unencrypted files are intercepted, sensitive information in the files can be compromised. To protect information confidentiality, Microsoft Office application files can be encrypted and password protected. Only users who know the correct password will be able to decrypt such files.

Check content

The policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 -> Security Settings “Encryption type for password protected Office 97-2003 files” must be set to “Enabled (Microsoft Enhanced RSA and AES Cryptographic Provider,AES 256,256)”. Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\14.0\common\security Criteria: If the value DefaultEncryption12 is REG_SZ = “Microsoft Enhanced RSA and AES Cryptographic Provider,AES 256,256", this is not a finding.

Fix text

Set the policy value for User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office 2010 -> Security Settings “Encryption type for password protected Office 97-2003 files” to “Enabled (Microsoft Enhanced RSA and AES Cryptographic Provider,AES 256,256)”.

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