UCF STIG Viewer Logo

The Samsung Knox for Android platform must not allow backup to remote systems.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-61191 KNOX-35-021300 SV-75671r1_rule Medium
Description
Backups to remote systems (including cloud backup) can leave data vulnerable to breach on the external systems, which often offer less protection than the MOS. Where the remote backup involves a cloud-based solution, the backup capability is often used to synchronize data across multiple devices. In this case, DoD devices may synchronize DoD-sensitive information to a user's personal device or other unauthorized computers that are vulnerable to breach. Disallowing remote backup mitigates this risk. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #40
STIG Date
Samsung Android OS 5 with Knox 2.0 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2016-02-24

Details

Check Text ( C-62147r1_chk )
This validation procedure is performed on both the MDM Administration Console and the Samsung Knox for Android device.

Check whether the appropriate setting is configured on the MDM Administration Console:
1. Ask the MDM administrator to display the "Allow Google Backup" and "Google Auto Sync" settings in the "Android Restrictions" rule.
2. Verify the settings are disabled.

On the Samsung Knox for Android device:
1. Open the device settings.
2. Select "Backup and reset".
3. Verify "Back up my data" is disabled and cannot be enabled.
and
1. Open the device settings.
2. Select Accounts.
3. Configure a Google account.
4. Select the configured Google account.
5. Verify that all sync check boxes are unselected.

If the "Allow Google Backup" or “Google Auto Sync" setting is enabled, or if the user is able to enable the settings on the device, or if the "Application disable list" configuration in the MDM console does not contain all pre-installed public cloud backup applications, or if the user is able to successfully launch an application on this list, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-67051r1_fix)
Configure the MOS to disable backup to remote systems (including commercial clouds).

Configure the mobile device to disable backups to Google servers, disable Google Auto Sync, and disable all pre-installed public cloud backup applications.

On the MDM Administration Console, disable the "Allow Google backup" and "Google Auto Sync" settings in the "Android Restrictions" rule.