1.1.1.2.1.45 Set 'Microsoft network client: Send unencrypted password to third-party SMB servers' to 'Disabled'

Information

Disable this policy setting to prevent the SMB redirector from sending plaintext passwords during authentication to third-party SMB servers that do not support password encryption. It is recommended that you disable this policy setting unless there is a strong business case to enable it. If this policy setting is enabled, unencrypted passwords will be allowed across the network. If you enable this policy setting, the computer can transmit passwords in plaintext across the network to other computers that offer SMB services. These other computers may not use any of the SMB security mechanisms that are included with recent versions Windows.

Solution

To implement the recommended configuration state, set the following Group Policy setting to 0.

Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options\Microsoft network client- Send unencrypted password to third-party SMB servers

Impact- Some very old applications and operating systems such as MS-DOS, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, and Windows 95a may not be able to communicate with the servers in your organization by means of the SMB protocol.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/42

Item Details

Category: SYSTEM AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY

References: 800-53|SI-5(7), CCE|CCE-2870-4

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: 526ac85bedfcd43d6e813829884a8e9af4e8f7a42ba762e6fa0d9b00f0cf28bd