The macOS system must be configured to disable Remote Apple Events.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-257201	APPL-13-002022	SV-257201r905236_rule		Medium

Description
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. Remote Apple Events must be disabled.

Description

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. Remote Apple Events must be disabled.

STIG	Date
Apple macOS 13 (Ventura) Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-02-06

Details

Check Text ( C-60886r905234_chk )
Verify the macOS system is configured to disable Remote Apple Events with the following command: /bin/launchctl print-disabled system \| /usr/bin/grep com.apple.AEServer "com.apple.AEServer" => disabled If the results are not "com.apple.AEServer => disabled", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-60827r905235_fix)
Configure the macOS system to disable Remote Apple Events with the following command: /usr/bin/sudo /bin/launchctl disable system/com.apple.AEServer The system may need to be restarted for the update to take effect.