Title

The macOS system must be configured to disable the system preference pane for TouchID and Password. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

It is detrimental for operating systems to provide, or install by default, functionality exceeding requirements or mission objectives. These unnecessary capabilities or services are often overlooked and therefore may remain unsecured. They increase the risk to the platform by providing additional attack vectors. Operating systems can provide a wide variety of functions and services. Some of the functions and services, provided by default, may not be necessary to support essential organizational operations (e.g., key missions, functions). Examples of nonessential capabilities include but are not limited to games, software packages, tools, and demonstration software not related to requirements or providing a wide array of functionality not required for every mission but that cannot be disabled. The TouchID & Password preference pane must be disabled. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000095-GPOS-00049, SRG-OS-000370-GPOS-00155

Check Content

Verify the macOS system is configured to disable access to the TouchID & Password preference pane with the following command: /usr/sbin/system_profiler SPConfigurationProfileDataType | /usr/bin/grep -A 6 "DisabledPreferencePanes" If the result is not an array listing "DisabledPreferencePanes" containing "com.apple.preferences.password", this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the macOS system to disable access to the TouchID & Password preference pane by installing the "Restrictions Policy" configuration profile.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-257214r905275_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-257214

Group Title: SRG-OS-000095-GPOS-00049

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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