SV-225024r958504: Windows Server 2016 built-in guest account must be disabled. | Microsoft Windows Server 2016 STIG SCAP Benchmark

Loading benchmark…

Assessment Title

Rule Text

Windows Server 2016 built-in guest account must be disabled.

Description

Discussion Text

A system faces an increased vulnerability threat if the built-in guest account is not disabled. This is a known account that exists on all Windows systems and cannot be deleted. This account is initialized during the installation of the operating system with no password assigned.

How this relates to the STIG checklist: STIG vs SCAP benchmark.

IA Controls

NIST SP 800-53

Not mappedCCI-000804SV-88475V-73809

References

DPMS Target Microsoft Windows Server 2016 DISA DPMS Target Microsoft Windows Server 2016 4205

Checks

OVAL

oval:mil.disa.stig.windows:var:118301 ← xccdf_mil.disa.stig_value_guest_account_status_var

DISA STIG (Manual Reference)

Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor.

Run "gpedit.msc".

Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> Security Options.

If the value for "Accounts: Guest account status" is not set to "Disabled", this is a finding.

For server core installations, run the following command:

Secedit /Export /Areas SecurityPolicy /CFG C:\Path\FileName.Txt

If "EnableGuestAccount" equals "1" in the file, this is a finding.

SCC Automation Reference

The reconstructed evaluation script behind this rule's OVAL check(s) — every module a compound check combines, with this rule's own concrete values and DISA's SCC tool's real per-module mechanism curated from static teardown of SCC releases.

Assessment Script Powered by AISyntax-verified

A standalone PowerShell script to assess this control automatically. Review before running it in your environment.

Syntax-checked as valid PowerShell. Not executed here — running it for real needs the actual ms_windows_server_2016 target this check assesses.

# OVAL Definition: oval:mil.disa.stig.windows:def:1183
$groupPolicyResult = Get-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\History\' | Select-Object -ExpandProperty LastSuccessTime
if ($groupPolicyResult -eq $null) { exit 1 }
$localGroupPolicy = Get-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Polsvc\Parameters\'
if ($localGroupPolicy.Accounts_Guest_account_status -eq 0) { exit 0 }
exit 1

Remediation

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> Security Options >> "Accounts: Guest account status" to "Disabled".