diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 6024f92b..a71ea7f7 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -207,6 +207,8 @@ security_search_for_invalid_owner: no                        # V-72007
 security_search_for_invalid_group_owner: no                  # V-72009
 # Set user/group owners on each home directory and set mode to 0750.
 security_set_home_directory_permissions_and_owners: no       # V-72017 / V-72019 / V-72021
+# Find all world-writable directories and display them.
+security_find_world_writable_dirs: no                        # V-72047
 
 ## Graphical interfaces (graphical)
 # Disable automatic gdm logins
diff --git a/doc/metadata/rhel7/V-72047.rst b/doc/metadata/rhel7/V-72047.rst
index 18b4ace4..77608859 100644
--- a/doc/metadata/rhel7/V-72047.rst
+++ b/doc/metadata/rhel7/V-72047.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 id: V-72047
-status: implemented
+status: opt-in
 tag: file_perms
 ---
 
@@ -11,3 +11,14 @@ user. Those directories appear in the Ansible output.
 Deployers should review the list of directories and group owners to ensure
 that they are appropriate for the directory. Unauthorized group ownership
 could allow certain users to modify files from other users.
+
+Searching the entire filesystem for world-writable directories will consume
+a significant amount of disk I/O and could impact the performance of a
+production system. It can also delay the playbook's completion. Therefore,
+the search is disabled by default.
+
+Deployers can enable the search by setting the following Ansible variable:
+
+.. code-block:: yaml
+
+    security_find_world_writable_dirs: yes
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/world-writable-file-search-optional-7420269230a0e22f.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/world-writable-file-search-optional-7420269230a0e22f.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a5cc973c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/world-writable-file-search-optional-7420269230a0e22f.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    Searching for world-writable files is now disabled by default. The search
+    causes delays in playbook runs and it can consume a significant amount of
+    CPU and I/O resources. Deployers can re-enable the search by setting
+    ``security_find_world_writable_dirs`` to ``yes``.
diff --git a/tasks/rhel7stig/file_perms.yml b/tasks/rhel7stig/file_perms.yml
index 52c2a412..2325cc30 100644
--- a/tasks/rhel7stig/file_perms.yml
+++ b/tasks/rhel7stig/file_perms.yml
@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@
   changed_when: False
   failed_when: False
   check_mode: no
+  when:
+    - security_find_world_writable_dirs | bool
   tags:
     - always
 
@@ -133,6 +135,7 @@
       {{ world_writable_dirs.stdout }}
   when:
     - world_writable_dirs is defined
+    - not world_writable_dirs | skipped
   tags:
     - medium
     - file_perms