Apple iOS must implement the management setting: not allow a user to remove Apple iOS configuration profiles that enforce DoD security requirements.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-228780	AIOS-14-011900	SV-228780r561031_rule		Medium

Description
Configuration profiles define security policies on Apple iOS devices. If a user is able to remove a configuration profile, the user can then change the configuration that had been enforced by that policy. Relaxing security policies may introduce vulnerabilities that the profiles had mitigated. Configuring a profile to never be removed mitigates this risk. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #47

STIG	Date
Apple iOS/iPadOS 14 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2021-05-25

Details

Check Text ( C-31015r509968_chk )
Review configuration settings to confirm configuration profiles are not removable. This check procedure is performed on both the Apple iOS management tool and the Apple iOS device. The procedures below assume the site is not enrolled in DEP and are not applicable to devices under MDM management. Note: If an organization has multiple configuration profiles, the check procedure must be performed on the relevant configuration profiles applicable to the scope of the review. In the Apple iOS management tool, verify "Security" is set to "Never" and "Automatically Remove Profile" is set to "Never". On the Apple iOS device: 1. Open the Settings app. 2. Tap "General". 3. Tap "Profiles & Device Management" or "Profiles". 4. Tap each Configuration Profile from the Apple iOS management tool that contains the restrictions for the device. 5. Verify the "Delete Profile" button is not present. If, on the Apple iOS management tool or on the iOS device, the "Delete Profile" button is available on the configuration profile, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-31015r509968_chk )

Review configuration settings to confirm configuration profiles are not removable.

This check procedure is performed on both the Apple iOS management tool and the Apple iOS device. The procedures below assume the site is not enrolled in DEP and are not applicable to devices under MDM management.

Note: If an organization has multiple configuration profiles, the check procedure must be performed on the relevant configuration profiles applicable to the scope of the review.

In the Apple iOS management tool, verify "Security" is set to "Never" and "Automatically Remove Profile" is set to "Never".

On the Apple iOS device:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap "General".
3. Tap "Profiles & Device Management" or "Profiles".
4. Tap each Configuration Profile from the Apple iOS management tool that contains the restrictions for the device.
5. Verify the "Delete Profile" button is not present.

If, on the Apple iOS management tool or on the iOS device, the "Delete Profile" button is available on the configuration profile, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-30992r514072_fix)
Configure the Apple iOS configuration profile such that it can never be removed. The procedure for implementing this control will vary depending on the MDM/EMM used by the mobile service provider. When using Apple Configurator, under "General Security", configure "Security" to "Never" and "Automatically Remove Profile" to "Never".