Event tracing for Windows (ETW) for Common Language Runtime events must be enabled.

Event tracing captures information about applications utilizing the .NET CLR and the .NET CLR itself. This includes security oriented information, such as Strong Name and Authenticode verification.

Beginning with Windows Vista, ETW is enabled by default however, the .Net CLR and .Net applications can be configured to not utilize Event Tracing. If ETW event tracing is disabled, critical events that occurred within the runtime will not be captured in event logs.

Open Windows explorer and search for all .NET config files including application config files (*.exe.config)

NOTE: Beginning with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, ETW Tracing is enabled by default and the "etwEnable" setting is not required in order for Event Tracing to be enabled. An etwEnable setting of "true" IS required in earlier versions of Windows as ETW is disabled by default.

Examine the configuration settings for <etwEnable enabled="false" />.

If the "etwEnable" element is set to "true", this is not a finding.

If the "etwEnable" element is set to "false" and documented approvals by the IAO are not provided, this is a finding.

Open Windows explorer and search for all .NET config files including application config files (*.exe.config).

Examine the configuration settings for <etwEnable enabled="false" />.

Enable ETW Tracing by setting the etwEnable flag to "true" or obtain documented IAO approvals.