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Check: APPL-14-003012

Apple macOS 14 (Sonoma) STIG: APPL-14-003012 (in versions v1 r2 through v1 r1)

Title

The macOS system must disable password hints. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Password hints must be disabled. Password hints leak information about passwords that are currently in use and can lead to loss of confidentiality.

Check Content

Verify the macOS system is configured to disable password hints with the following command: /usr/bin/osascript -l JavaScript << EOS $.NSUserDefaults.alloc.initWithSuiteName('com.apple.loginwindow')\ .objectForKey('RetriesUntilHint').js EOS If the result is not "0", this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the macOS system to disable password hints by installing the "com.apple.loginwindow" configuration profile.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-259542r941248_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-259542

Group Title: SRG-OS-000079-GPOS-00047

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CCIs

CCIs tied to check.

Number	Definition
CCI-000206	The information system obscures feedback of authentication information during the authentication process to protect the information from possible exploitation/use by unauthorized individuals.

Controls

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

Number	Title
IA-6	Authenticator Feedback