Information
You can use this procedure to control a user's ability to install and configure a Network Bridge.
The recommended state for this setting is: Enabled.
Rationale:
The Network Bridge setting, if enabled, allows users to create a Layer 2 Media Access Control (MAC) bridge, enabling them to connect two or more physical network segments together. A Network Bridge thus allows a computer that has connections to two different networks to share data between those networks.
In an enterprise managed environment, where there is a need to control network traffic to only authorized paths, allowing users to create a Network Bridge increases the risk and attack surface from the bridged network.
Impact:
Users cannot create or configure a Network Bridge.
Solution
To establish the recommended configuration via GP, set the following UI path to Enabled:
Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Network\Network Connections\Prohibit installation and configuration of Network Bridge on your DNS domain network
Note: This Group Policy path is provided by the Group Policy template NetworkConnections.admx/adml that is included with all versions of the Microsoft Windows Administrative Templates.
Default Value:
Disabled. (Users are able create and modify the configuration of Network Bridges. Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure.)
Item Details
Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT, SYSTEM AND SERVICES ACQUISITION
References: 800-53|CM-1, 800-53|CM-2, 800-53|CM-6, 800-53|CM-7, 800-53|CM-7(1), 800-53|CM-9, 800-53|SA-3, 800-53|SA-8, 800-53|SA-10, CSCv7|11.3
Control ID: 22f6fd238a0776b478e35b9cca8a7b49682cbf52cf176e34d65720873ea8b337