The macOS system must allow only applications that have a valid digital signature to run.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-214884	AOSX-13-000710	SV-214884r648720_rule		Medium

Description
Gatekeeper settings must be configured correctly to only allow the system to run applications signed with a valid Apple Developer ID code. Administrator users will still have the option to override these settings on a per-app basis. Gatekeeper is a security feature that ensures that applications must be digitally signed by an Apple-issued certificate in order to run. Digital signatures allow the macOS host to verify that the application has not been modified by a malicious third party.

Description

Gatekeeper settings must be configured correctly to only allow the system to run applications signed with a valid Apple Developer ID code. Administrator users will still have the option to override these settings on a per-app basis. Gatekeeper is a security feature that ensures that applications must be digitally signed by an Apple-issued certificate in order to run. Digital signatures allow the macOS host to verify that the application has not been modified by a malicious third party.

STIG	Date
Apple OS X 10.13 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2021-11-19

Details

Check Text ( C-16084r648719_chk )
Identify any unsigned applications that have been installed on the system: /usr/sbin/system_profiler SPApplicationsDataType \| /usr/bin/grep -B 3 -A 4 -e "Obtained from: Unknown" \| /usr/bin/grep -v -e "Location: /Library/Application Support/Script Editor/Templates" -e "Location: /System/Library/" \| /usr/bin/awk -F "Location: " '{print $2}' \| /usr/bin/sort -u If any results are returned and is not documented with the Information System Security Officer (ISSO) as an operational requirement, this is a finding. Verify only applications with a valid digital signature are allowed to run: /usr/sbin/system_profiler SPConfigurationProfileDataType \| /usr/bin/grep -E '(EnableAssessment \| AllowIdentifiedDevelopers)’ If the return is null, or is not: AllowIdentifiedDevelopers = 1; EnableAssessment = 1; This is a finding.

Check Text ( C-16084r648719_chk )

Identify any unsigned applications that have been installed on the system:
/usr/sbin/system_profiler SPApplicationsDataType | /usr/bin/grep -B 3 -A 4 -e "Obtained from: Unknown" | /usr/bin/grep -v -e "Location: /Library/Application Support/Script Editor/Templates" -e "Location: /System/Library/" | /usr/bin/awk -F "Location: " '{print $2}' | /usr/bin/sort -u

If any results are returned and is not documented with the Information System Security Officer (ISSO) as an operational requirement, this is a finding.

Verify only applications with a valid digital signature are allowed to run:

/usr/sbin/system_profiler SPConfigurationProfileDataType | /usr/bin/grep -E '(EnableAssessment | AllowIdentifiedDevelopers)’

If the return is null, or is not:
AllowIdentifiedDevelopers = 1;
EnableAssessment = 1;
This is a finding.

Fix Text (F-16082r397225_fix)
This setting is enforced using the "Security and Privacy Policy" configuration profile.