18.5.10.2 Ensure 'Turn off Microsoft Peer-to-Peer Networking Services' is set to 'Enabled'

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Information

The Peer Name Resolution Protocol (PNRP) allows for distributed resolution of a name to an IPv6 address and port number. The protocol operates in the context of clouds. A cloud is a set of peer computers that can communicate with each other by using the same IPv6 scope.

Peer-to-Peer protocols allow for applications in the areas of RTC, collaboration, content distribution and distributed processing.

The recommended state for this setting is: Enabled.

Rationale:

This setting enhances the security of the environment and reduces the overall risk exposure related to peer-to-peer networking.

Impact:

Microsoft Peer-to-Peer Networking Services are turned off in their entirety, and all applications dependent on them will stop working.

Solution

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

Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Network\Microsoft Peer-to-Peer Networking Services\Turn off Microsoft Peer-to-Peer Networking Services

Note: This Group Policy path is provided by the Group Policy template P2P-pnrp.admx/adml that is included with all versions of the Microsoft Windows Administrative Templates.

Default Value:

Disabled. (Peer-to-peer protocols are turned on.)

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/3973