🛡️ How to Block VBS Scripts Using Group Policy (Windows Server 2025)

VBScript (.vbs) files can be a security risk if misused. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to block VBS scripts across domain users using Group Policy in Windows Server 2025.

🖥️ Step 1: Test VBScript Execution (Client Computer)

• Go to the client computer
• Create a VBScript file on the desktop with the .vbs extension
• Run the .vbs file

✅ It will run successfully (before applying the policy)

🔧 Step 2: Configure Group Policy (Server Side)

• Open Server Manager
• Navigate to: Tools > Group Policy Management
• Select your domain (e.g., xitiztechservices.local)
• Go to your OU (e.g., Domain_Users)
• Right-click → Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here...
• Name it: Block VBS Scripts Running

✏️ Step 3: Edit the GPO

• Right-click the GPO → Edit
• Navigate to: User Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Software Restriction Policies

🔐 Step 4: Create Software Restriction Policy

• Right-click Software Restriction Policies → New Software Restriction Policies
• This creates new Folder:

Security Levels 
Additional Rules        

➕ Step 5: Create Path Rule

• Go to Additional Rules
• Right-click → New Path Rule
• Configure:

Path: *.VBS
Security Level: Disallowed        

• Click Apply → OK

🔄 Step 6: Apply Policy Updates

Run the following on both server and client (as Administrator):

gpupdate /force        

• Restart the client computer

🧪 Step 7: Verify

• Run the .vbs file again on the client

❌ You’ll see:

Execution of the Windows Script Host failed. This program is blocked by group policy. For more information, contact your system administrator.

✅ Final Result

VBScript execution is now blocked for domain users, improving your organization’s security posture.

💡 Tip: This method can be extended to block other script types by modifying the path rule.

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