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

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-257772	APPL-12-002069	SV-257772r922850_rule		Medium

Description
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.

Description

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.

STIG	Date
Apple macOS 12 (Monterey) Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-08-28

Details

Check Text ( C-61513r922848_chk )
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. shared

Fix Text (F-61437r922849_fix)
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: shared To read: shared Reload the authorization database with the following command: /usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/security authorizationdb write system.preferences < ~/Desktop/authdb.txt

Fix Text (F-61437r922849_fix)

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:
shared

To read:
shared

Reload the authorization database with the following command:
/usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/security authorizationdb write system.preferences < ~/Desktop/authdb.txt