Detections
Analytics

2.3.4.1 Ensure 'Devices: Prevent users from installing printer drivers' is set to 'Enabled'

Warning! Audit Deprecated

This audit has been deprecated and will be removed in a future update.

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Information

This policy setting determines who is allowed to install a printer driver as part of connecting to a shared printer. For a computer to print to a shared printer, the driver for that shared printer must be installed on the local computer.

The recommended state for this setting is: Enabled.

Note: This setting does not affect the ability to add a local printer. This setting does not affect Administrators.

It may be appropriate in some organizations to allow users to install printer drivers on their own workstations. However, in a high security environment, only Administrators should be allowed, not users, to do this, because printer driver installation may unintentionally cause the computer to become less stable.

A threat actor could install inappropriate printer drivers in a deliberate attempt to damage the computer, or a user might accidentally install malicious software that masquerades as a printer driver. It is feasible for a threat actor to disguise a Trojan horse program as a printer driver. The program may appear to users as if they must use it to print, but such a program could unleash malicious code on the network.

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\Devices: Prevent users from installing printer drivers

Impact:

Only Administrators will be able to install a printer driver as part of connecting to a shared printer. The ability to add a local printer will not be affected.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/26296

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL, AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

References: 800-53|AC-2, 800-53|AC-3, 800-53|AC-6, 800-53|AC-6(1), 800-53|AC-6(7), 800-53|AU-9(4)

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: 2b452418d1a621f8eec5148574f1979da7c1c21598819fa315d4c5eb2d8e3976