Title

The macOS system must prevent nonprivileged users from executing privileged functions to include disabling, circumventing, or altering implemented security safeguards/countermeasures. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Preventing nonprivileged users from executing privileged functions mitigates the risk that unauthorized individuals or processes may gain unnecessary access to information or privileges. Privileged functions include, for example, establishing accounts, performing system integrity checks, or administering cryptographic key management activities. Nonprivileged users are individuals that do not possess appropriate authorizations. Circumventing intrusion detection and prevention mechanisms or malicious code protection mechanisms are examples of privileged functions that require protection from nonprivileged users.

Check Content

To check that macOS is configured to require authentication to all system preference panes, use the following commands: /usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/security authorizationdb read system.preferences | grep -A1 shared If what is returned does not include the following, this is a finding. <key>shared</key> <false/>

Fix Text

To ensure that authentication is required to access all system level preference panes use the following procedure: Copy the authorization database to a file using the following command: /usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/security authorizationdb read system.preferences > ~/Desktop/authdb.txt edit the file to change: <key>shared</key> <true/> To read: <key>shared</key> <false/> Reload the authorization database with the following command: /usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/security authorizationdb write system.preferences < ~/Desktop/authdb.txt

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-257772r922850_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-257772

Group Title: SRG-OS-000324-GPOS-00125

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

Controls tied to check. These are derived from the CCIs shown above.