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The operating system must automatically audit account creation.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-58287 AOSX-09-000120 SV-72717r1_rule Medium
Description
Once an attacker establishes initial access to a system, the attacker often attempts to create a persistent method of re-establishing access. One way to accomplish this is for the attacker to create a new account. Auditing of account creation mitigates this risk. To address access requirements, many operating systems may be integrated with enterprise level authentication/access/auditing mechanisms that meet or exceed access control policy requirements.
STIG Date
Apple OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) Workstation Security Technical Implementation Guide 2017-01-05

Details

Check Text ( C-59113r1_chk )
In order to view the currently configured flags for the audit daemon, run the following command:

sudo grep ^flags /etc/security/audit_control

The account creation events are logged by way of the 'ad' flag. If 'ad' is not listed in the result of the check, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-63603r1_fix)
To make sure the appropriate flags are enabled for auditing, run the following command:

sudo sed -i.bak '/^flags/ s/$/,ad/' /etc/security/audit_control; sudo audit -s

A text editor may also be used to implement the required update to the /etc/security/audit_control file.