Title

The macOS system must enable the application firewall. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

The macOS Application Firewall is the built-in firewall that comes with macOS, and it must be enabled. When the macOS Application Firewall is enabled, the flow of information within the information system and between interconnected systems will be controlled by approved authorizations.

Check Content

Verify the macOS system is configured to enable the application firewall with the following command: profile="$(/usr/bin/osascript -l JavaScript << EOS $.NSUserDefaults.alloc.initWithSuiteName('com.apple.security.firewall')\ .objectForKey('EnableFirewall').js EOS )" plist="$(/usr/bin/defaults read /Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf globalstate 2>/dev/null)" if [[ "$profile" == "true" ]] && [[ "$plist" =~ [1,2] ]]; then echo "true" else echo "false" fi If the result is not "true", this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the macOS system to enable the application firewall with the following command: /usr/bin/defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf globalstate -int 1

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-259562r941308_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-259562

Group Title: SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00232

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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