rules/findings/m365/exchange_online/mail_flow/ms-exo-mail-forwarding-blocked-and-disabled.json

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    "provider": "Microsoft365",
    "serviceType": "Exchange Online",
    "serviceName": "Microsoft 365",
    "displayName": "Ensure all forms of mail forwarding are blocked and/or disabled",
    "description": "\r\n\t\tExchange Online offers several methods of managing the flow of email messages. These are Remote domain, Transport Rules, and Anti-spam outbound policies. These methods work together to provide comprehensive coverage for potential automatic forwarding channels: \r\n\t\t* Outlook forwarding using inbox rules. \r\n\t\t* Outlook forwarding configured using OOF rule. \r\n\t\t* OWA forwarding setting (ForwardingSmtpAddress). \r\n\t\t* Forwarding set by the admin using EAC (ForwardingAddress). \r\n\t\t* Forwarding using Power Automate / Flow. \r\n\r\n\t\tEnsure a Transport rule and Anti-spam outbound policy are used to block mail forwarding. \r\n\t\t**NOTE** : Any exclusions should be implemented based on organizational policy.\r\n ",
    "rationale": "Attackers often create these rules to exfiltrate data from your tenancy, this could be accomplished via access to an end-user account or otherwise. An insider could also use one of these methods as a secondary channel to exfiltrate sensitive data.",
    "impact": "Care should be taken before implementation to ensure there is no business need for case-by-case auto-forwarding. Disabling auto-forwarding to remote domains will affect all users and in an organization. Any exclusions should be implemented based on organizational policy.",
    "remediation": {
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    "recommendation": null,
    "references": [
        "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/policy-and-compliance/mail-flow-rules/mail-flow-rule-procedures?view=exchserver-2019",
        "https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/exchange/all-you-need-to-know-about-automatic-email-forwarding-in-exchange-online/2074888",
        "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/security/office-365-security/outbound-spam-policies-external-email-forwarding?view=o365-worldwide"
    ],
    "compliance": [
        {
            "name": "CIS Microsoft 365 Foundations Benchmark",
            "version": "6.0.1",
            "reference": "6.2.1",
            "profile": [
                "E3 Level 1",
                "E5 Level 1"
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    "idSuffix": "m365_exo_mail_forwarding_enabled",
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    "id": "microsoft365_2127"
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