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2.3.10.4 Ensure 'Network access: Do not allow storage of passwords and credentials for network authentication' is set to 'Enabled'

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Information

This policy setting determines whether Credential Manager (formerly called Stored User Names and Passwords) saves passwords or credentials for later use when it gains domain authentication.

The recommended state for this setting is: 'Enabled'.

Note: Changes to this setting will not take effect until Windows is restarted.

Rationale:
Passwords that are cached can be accessed by the user when logged on to the computer.

Although this information may sound obvious, a problem can arise if the user unknowingly executes hostile code that reads the passwords and forwards them to another, unauthorized user.

Solution

To establish the recommended configuration via GP, set the following UI path to 'Enabled':


Computer Configuration\Policies\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options\Network access: Do not allow storage of passwords and credentials for network authentication

Impact:
Credential Manager will not store passwords and credentials on the computer.

Users will be forced to enter passwords whenever they log on to their Passport account or other network resources that aren't accessible to their domain account.

Testing has shown that clients running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 will be unable to connect to Distributed File System (DFS) shares in untrusted domains.

Enabling this setting also makes it impossible to specify alternate credentials for scheduled tasks, this can cause a variety of problems.

For example, some third party backup products will no longer work.

This policy setting should have no impact on users who access network resources that are configured to allow access with their Active Directory-based domain account.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/1937

Item Details

Category: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION

References: 800-53|IA-5(1), CSCv6|16.13, CSCv6|16.14

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: c16c1e33a716361586811a4dc5f60d016bf32b4f7992afd38900962fc41d5711