Windows Server 2019 must have software certificate installation files removed.
Severity | Group ID | Group Title | Version | Rule ID | Date | STIG Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium | V-205852 | SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227 | WN19-00-000240 | SV-205852r991589_rule | 2026-02-12 | 3 |
Description
Use of software certificates and their accompanying installation files for end users to access resources is less secure than the use of hardware-based certificates.
ℹ️ Check
Search all drives for *.p12 and *.pfx files.
If any files with these extensions exist, this is a finding.
This does not apply to server-based applications that have a requirement for .p12 certificate files or Adobe PreFlight certificate files. Some applications create files with extensions of .p12 that are not certificate installation files. Removal of non-certificate installation files from systems is not required. These must be documented with the ISSO.
✔️ Fix
Remove any certificate installation files (*.p12 and *.pfx) found on a system.
Note: This does not apply to server-based applications that have a requirement for .p12 certificate files or Adobe PreFlight certificate files.