Microsoft IIS 10.0 • Release: 6 Benchmark Date: 05 Jan 2026
CAT II V-218824 IIST-SV-000158
Unspecified file extensions on a production IIS 10.0 web server must be removed.
Discussion
By allowing unspecified file extensions to execute, the web servers attack surface is significantly increased. This increased risk can be reduced by only allowing specific ISAPI extensions or CGI extensions to run on the web server.
Check Procedure
Open the IIS 10.0 Manager. Click the IIS 10.0 web server name. Double-click the "ISAPI and CGI restrictions" icon. Click “Edit Feature Settings". Verify the "Allow unspecified CGI modules" and the "Allow unspecified ISAPI modules" check boxes are NOT checked. If either or both of the "Allow unspecified CGI modules" and the "Allow unspecified ISAPI modules" check boxes are checked, this is a finding.
Fix Action
Open the IIS 10.0 Manager. Click the IIS 10.0 web server name. Double-click the "ISAPI and CGI restrictions" icon. Click "Edit Feature Settings". Remove the check from the "Allow unspecified CGI modules" and the "Allow unspecified ISAPI modules" check boxes. Click "OK".