V-252910

Discussion

Security flaws with software applications are discovered daily. Vendors are constantly updating and patching their products to address newly discovered security vulnerabilities. Organizations (including any contractor to the organization) are required to promptly install security-relevant software updates (e.g., patches, service packs, and hot fixes). Flaws discovered during security assessments, continuous monitoring, incident response activities, or information system error handling must also be addressed expeditiously. Organization-defined time periods for updating security-relevant software may vary based on a variety of factors including, for example, the security category of the information system or the criticality of the update (i.e., severity of the vulnerability related to the discovered flaw). This requirement will apply to software patch management solutions that are used to install patches across the enclave and also to applications that are not part of that patch management solution. For example, many browsers today provide the capability to install their own patch software. Patch criticality, as well as system criticality, will vary. Therefore, the tactical situations regarding the patch management process will also vary. This means the time period used must be a configurable parameter. Time frames for application of security-relevant software updates may depend on the Information Assurance Vulnerability Management (IAVM) process.

Check Content

Internet Explorer 11 is no longer supported by the vendor with the exception of some operating system versions under extended support (Ex: Windows Server 2019).

To determine the status of Internet Explorer 11 on the system, open PowerShell as an Administrator and run the command:

dism /online /get-capabilityinfo /capabilityname:Browser.InternetExplorer~~~~0.0.11.0

Within the returned results, if "State : Installed", this is a finding.

Within the returned results, if "State : Not Present", this is not a finding.

If the host operating system is supported under an extended support agreement, and "State : Installed", this is not a finding.

If nothing related to Internet Explorer is returned, this is not a finding.