Install binaries signed by MD2 and MD4 signing technologies
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026
Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 9.0
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Security Features\Binary Behavior Security Restriction User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Security Features\Binary Behavior Security Restriction Description
This policy setting allows you to manage whether Internet Explorer 9 can install ActiveX controls and other binaries signed with MD2 and MD4 signing technologies. Internet Explorer 9 does not support MD2 and MD4 signing technologies by default, because they are not as secure as other technologies. If you enable this policy setting, Internet Explorer 9 installs binaries signed by MD2 and MD4 signing technologies. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, Internet Explorer 9 does not install binaries signed by MD2 and MD4 signing technologies.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Security Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Security Value name: ENABLE_MD2_MD4
Enabled: ENABLE_MD2_MD4 = 1
Disabled: ENABLE_MD2_MD4 = 0
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
Applying both scopes creates an ambiguous configuration (computer takes precedence over user). Only do this intentionally.
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Install binaries signed by MD2 and MD4 signing technologies
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 9.0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Security]
"ENABLE_MD2_MD4"=dword:00000001 More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Install binaries signed by MD2 and MD4 signing technologies
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 9.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Security'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ENABLE_MD2_MD4' -Value 1 -Type DWord Intune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune. Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Install binaries signed by MD2 and MD4 signing technologies
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 9.0
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Security' -Name 'ENABLE_MD2_MD4' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Install binaries signed by MD2 and MD4 signing technologies
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 9.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Security'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ENABLE_MD2_MD4' -Value 1 -Type DWord SCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Install binaries signed by MD2 and MD4 signing technologies
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 9.0
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Install binaries signed by MD2 and MD4 signing technologies
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 9.0
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Security' -Name 'ENABLE_MD2_MD4' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Install binaries signed by MD2 and MD4 signing technologies
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 9.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Security'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ENABLE_MD2_MD4' -Value 1 -Type DWord Building a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.