2.3.12.1.2 Ensure 'Disable UI extending from documents and templates' is set to 'Enabled'

Information

This policy setting controls whether Office applications load any custom user interface (UI) code included with a document or template. Office allows developers to extend the UI with customization code that is included in a document or template.

The recommended state for this setting is: Enabled: Disallow in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, Publisher, Project, Visio, InfoPath.

Rationale:

The Office release allows developers to extend the UI with customization code that is included in a document or template. If the customization code is written by an inexperienced or malicious developer, it could limit the accessibility or availability of important application commands. Commands could also be added that launch macros that contain malicious code.

By default, Office applications load any UI customization code included with a document or template when opening it.

Impact:

Enabling this setting will prevent developers from using documents and templates to extend the UI, which some organizations do to increase user productivity. If the organization makes use of a modified UI, it might not be feasible to enable this setting. Sometimes only specific teams in an organization require a modified UI, and this setting could be enabled for the rest of the organization.

Solution

To establish the recommended configuration via GP, set the following UI path to Enabled: Disallow in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, Publisher, Project, Visio, InfoPath:

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Office 2016\Global Options\Customize\Disable UI extending from documents and templates

Default Value:

Disabled. (Office applications will load any UI customization code.)

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/12129

Item Details

Category: SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION

References: 800-53|SC-18(4)

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: 048b79f4944e9de93ec5c70d8f3137d793326fdc76fe69164bbae08c8274ae4d