CIS Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise Release 1909 Benchmark

9.3.6 (L1) Ensure 'Windows Firewall: Public: Settings: Apply local connection security rules' is set to 'No' (Scored)

ProfileApplicability:

 Level 1 (L1) - Corporate/Enterprise Environment (general use)

Description:

This setting controls whether local administrators are allowed to create connection security rules that apply together with connection security rules configured by Group Policy.

The recommended state for this setting is: No .

Rationale:

Users with administrative privileges might create firewall rules that expose the system to remote attack.

Audit:

Navigate to the UI Path articulated in the Remediation section and confirm it is set as prescribed. This group policy setting is backed by the following registry location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\PublicProfile: AllowLocalIPsecPolicyMerge

Remediation:

To establish the recommended configuration via GP, set the following UI path to No :

Computer Configuration\Policies\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Windows Firewall with Advanced Security\Windows Firewall with Advanced Security\Windows Firewall Properties\Public Profile\Settings Customize\Apply local connection security rules

Impact:

Administrators can still create local connection security rules, but the rules will not be applied.

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