Windows Server 2019 must have the built-in guest account disabled.

Severity	Group ID	Group Title	Version	Rule ID	Date	STIG Version
medium	V-205709	SRG-OS-000121-GPOS-00062	WN19-SO-000010	SV-205709r958504_rule	2025-02-25	3

Description
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.

ℹ️ Check
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.

ℹ️ Check

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.

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