System settings: Use Certificate Rules on Windows Executables for Software Restriction Policies
Updated: November 15, 2012
Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP
This security policy reference topic for the IT professional describes the best practices, location, values, policy management and security considerations for this policy setting.
Reference
This policy setting determines whether digital certificates are processed when software restriction policies are enabled and a user or process attempts to run software with an .exe file name extension. This security setting enables or disables certificate rules (which are a type of software restriction policy). With a software restriction policy, you can create a certificate rule that allows or disallows Microsoft Authenticode®-signed software to run, based on the digital certificate that is associated with the software. For certificate rules to work in software restriction policies, you must enable this security setting.
Possible values
Enabled
Disabled
Not defined
Best practices
- Set this policy to Enabled. Enabling certificate rules results in software restriction policies checking a certificate revocation list (CRL) to make sure that the software's certificate and signature are valid. When you start signed programs, this setting can decrease system performance. You can disable CRLs by editing the software restriction policies in the desired GPO. In the Trusted Publishers Properties dialog box, clear the Publisher and Timestamp check boxes.
Location
GPO_name\Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options
Default values
The following table lists the actual and effective default values for this policy. Default values are also listed on the policy’s property page.
| Server type or GPO | Default value |
|---|---|
Default Domain Policy |
Not defined |
Default Domain Controller Policy |
Not defined |
Stand-Alone Server Default Settings |
Disabled |
DC Effective Default Settings |
Disabled |
Member Server Effective Default Settings |
Disabled |
Client Computer Effective Default Settings |
Disabled |
Operating system version differences
There are no differences in this policy between operating systems beginning with Windows Server 2003.
Policy management
This section describes features and tools that are available to help you manage this policy.
Restart requirement
None. Changes to this policy become effective without a computer restart when they are saved locally or distributed through Group Policy.
Security considerations
This section describes how an attacker might exploit a feature or its configuration, how to implement the countermeasure, and the possible negative consequences of countermeasure implementation.
Vulnerability
Without the use of software restriction policies, users and computers might be exposed to unauthorized software that could include malicious software such as viruses and Trojan horses.
Countermeasure
Enable the System settings: Use Certificate Rules on Windows Executables for Software Restriction Policies setting.
Potential impact
If you enable certificate rules, software restriction policies check a certificate revocation list (CRL) to verify that the software's certificate and signature are valid. This checking process may negatively affect performance when signed programs start. To disable this feature, you can edit the software restriction policies in the appropriate GPO. In the Trusted Publishers Properties dialog box, clear the Publisher and Timestamp check boxes.