Controls/EDCA-TLS-048.json

{
  "id": "EDCA-TLS-048",
  "title": "Edge Receive connector tarpitting interval is configured",
  "description": "Receive connectors on the Edge Transport server MUST have a tarpitting interval of at least 5 seconds (00:00:05). Tarpitting introduces an artificial delay in SMTP responses to commands issued by senders who fail recipient validation, slowing down directory harvest attacks and reducing the throughput of malicious senders.",
  "verify": true,
  "subject": "Server",
  "category": "Transport Security",
  "severity": "Medium",
  "severityWeight": 5,
  "frameworks": [
    "Best Practice",
    "DISA"
  ],
  "references": [
    {
      "name": "Microsoft — Receive connectors",
      "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/exchange/mail-flow/connectors/receive-connectors"
    },
    {
      "name": "DISA STIG EX19-ED-000099: The Exchange Receive connector must use tarpitting (V-259621)",
      "url": "https://www.stigviewer.com/stigs/microsoft_exchange_2019_edge_server/2024-12-06/finding/V-259621"
    }
  ],
  "remediation": {
    "automatable": true,
    "description": "Set TarpitInterval to at least 00:00:05 on all Edge Receive connectors: Set-ReceiveConnector -Identity <name> -TarpitInterval '00:00:05'.",
    "scriptTemplate": "Get-ReceiveConnector | Select-Object Identity, TarpitInterval\n# To set minimum tarpitting:\n# Get-ReceiveConnector | Set-ReceiveConnector -TarpitInterval '00:00:05'"
  },
  "considerations": "The default tarpitting interval in Exchange is 5 seconds (00:00:05), which meets this control. Verify that no connector has been set to 00:00:00. Increasing the interval beyond 5 seconds may cause timeouts with legitimate mail servers that have strict timeout thresholds.",
  "roles": [
    "Edge"
  ]
}