STIG ID: WN19-AC-000090 | SRG: SRG-OS-000073-GPOS-00041 | Severity: high | CCI: | Vulnerability Id: V-205653
Storing passwords using reversible encryption is essentially the same as storing clear-text versions of the passwords, which are easily compromised. For this reason, this policy must never be enabled.
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy >> "Store passwords using reversible encryption" to "Disabled".
Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor.
Run "gpedit.msc".
Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy.
If the value for "Store passwords using reversible encryption" 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 "ClearTextPassword" equals "1" in the file, this is a finding.