Controls/EDCA-SEC-029.json

{
  "id": "EDCA-SEC-029",
  "title": "MSMQ feature not installed on Exchange hosts",
  "description": "Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ) is a Windows optional feature that provides asynchronous message-based communication between applications; it is not required by any Exchange Server component but is sometimes present due to legacy application deployments or automated server builds. Each Exchange server MUST have MSMQ-related Windows features removed. MSMQ is not required for Exchange 2016, 2019, or Exchange SE and increases the attack surface without operational benefit.",
  "verify": true,
  "subject": "Server",
  "category": "Platform Security",
  "severity": "Low",
  "severityWeight": 4,
  "frameworks": [
    "Best Practice"
  ],
  "references": [
    {
      "name": "CSS MSMQ feature check",
      "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/CSS-Exchange/blob/main/Diagnostics/HealthChecker/HealthChecker.ps1"
    }
  ],
  "remediation": {
    "automatable": false,
    "description": "Review dependency impact and remove MSMQ-related Windows features if not explicitly required.",
    "scriptTemplate": "# Diagnose: Check if MSMQ Windows feature is installed\nGet-WindowsFeature MSMQ* | Select-Object Name, DisplayName, Installed\n# MSMQ is not required by Exchange. Uninstall if no other workload depends on it:\n# Uninstall-WindowsFeature MSMQ"
  },
  "considerations": "MSMQ on Exchange servers is not typically required and can introduce attack surface. Removing the MSMQ Windows feature requires a server reboot. Verify no Exchange services or third-party products depend on MSMQ before removing it.",
  "roles": [
    "Mailbox",
    "Edge"
  ]
}