The Samsung KNOX for Android platform must be configured to disable Allow New Admin Install.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-69613	KNOX-35-021000	SV-84235r1_rule		Medium

Description
An application with administrator permissions (e.g., MDM agent) is allowed to configure policies on the device. If a user is allowed to install another MDM agent on the device, this will allow another MDM administrator (assuming it has the proper KNOX licenses) the ability to configure potentially conflicting policies on the device that may not meet DoD security requirements. Although an MDM cannot disable another MDM's policies or remove another MDM from the device, there is the potential of creating policies that could conflict with enterprise policies. Therefore, other applications requesting administrator permissions should be blocked from installation. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #45

Description

An application with administrator permissions (e.g., MDM agent) is allowed to configure policies on the device. If a user is allowed to install another MDM agent on the device, this will allow another MDM administrator (assuming it has the proper KNOX licenses) the ability to configure potentially conflicting policies on the device that may not meet DoD security requirements. Although an MDM cannot disable another MDM's policies or remove another MDM from the device, there is the potential of creating policies that could conflict with enterprise policies. Therefore, other applications requesting administrator permissions should be blocked from installation. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #45

STIG	Date
Samsung Android OS 6 (with KNOX 2.x) Security Technical Implementation Guide	2016-11-14

Details

Check Text ( C-70049r1_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 New Admin Install" setting in the "Android Restrictions" rule. 2. Verify the setting is disabled. Note: With some MDM consoles, this policy is automatically configured when the user enrolls with the MDM. Note: Android Device Manager must first be disabled on the device in order to successfully apply this policy. This can only be done manually on the device by selecting "Lock screen and security", then "Other security settings", then "Device administrators", and then disable Android Device Manager. On the Samsung KNOX for Android device: 1. Attempt to install an application that requires admin permissions. 2. Verify the application is blocked from being installed. If the "Allow New Admin Install" setting in the MDM console is enabled, or if the user is able to install another application requiring admin permissions on the device, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-70049r1_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 New Admin Install" setting in the "Android Restrictions" rule.
2. Verify the setting is disabled.

Note: With some MDM consoles, this policy is automatically configured when the user enrolls with the MDM.

Note: Android Device Manager must first be disabled on the device in order to successfully apply this policy. This can only be done manually on the device by selecting "Lock screen and security", then "Other security settings", then "Device administrators", and then disable Android Device Manager.

On the Samsung KNOX for Android device:
1. Attempt to install an application that requires admin permissions.
2. Verify the application is blocked from being installed.

If the "Allow New Admin Install" setting in the MDM console is enabled, or if the user is able to install another application requiring admin permissions on the device, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-75803r1_fix)
Configure the mobile operating system to disallow new admin installations. On the MDM Administration Console, disable the "Allow New Admin Install" setting in the "Android Restrictions" rule.