Secure ICA file session launch

Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms

Description

This policy allows session launch from Citrix-signed executables only. It blocks session launch from any other untrusted processes and disables direct session launch using the ICA file.

Registry

HKCU SOFTWARE\Policies\Citrix

Value name: BlockDirectICAFileLaunches

Enabled: BlockDirectICAFileLaunches = 1

Disabled: BlockDirectICAFileLaunches = 0

REG Builder

BETA

Configure the state and elements to generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune, and SCCM outputs.

These exports replicate the policy's registry effect. Editing the registry directly is not the same as applying the GPO through the management console (no gpupdate, no central reporting). Test before production; HKLM changes require administrator rights.

Not configured Enabled Disabled

.reg file

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Secure ICA file session launch
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Citrix]
"BlockDirectICAFileLaunches"=dword:00000001

PowerShell

# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Secure ICA file session launch
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms

$path = 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Citrix'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'BlockDirectICAFileLaunches' -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: Secure ICA file session launch
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms

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 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Citrix' -Name 'BlockDirectICAFileLaunches' -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: Secure ICA file session launch
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms

$path = 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Citrix'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'BlockDirectICAFileLaunches' -Value 1 -Type DWord

SCCM CI

# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Secure ICA file session launch
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms
# 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: Secure ICA file session launch
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms

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 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Citrix' -Name 'BlockDirectICAFileLaunches' -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: Secure ICA file session launch
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: All Citrix Workspace supported platforms

$path = 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Citrix'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'BlockDirectICAFileLaunches' -Value 1 -Type DWord