Samsung Android 8 with Knox must be configured to not allow backup of [all applications, configuration data] to remote systems: Disable Allow Google Accounts Auto Sync.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-80247	KNOX-08-017100	SV-94951r1_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 Samsung Android 8 with Knox. 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

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 Samsung Android 8 with Knox. 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 8 with Knox 3.x COBO Use Case Security Technical Implementation Guide	2018-11-30

Details

Check Text ( C-79919r1_chk )
Review Samsung Android 8 with Knox configuration settings to determine if the capability to back up to a remote system has been disabled. This validation procedure is performed on the MDM Administration Console and the Samsung device: On the MDM console, do the following: 1. Ask the MDM Administrator to display the "Allow Google Accounts Auto Sync" check box in the "Android Restrictions" rule. 2. Verify the check box is not selected. 3. View the "application disable list". 4. Verify the list contains all pre-installed cloud backup applications. On the Samsung Android 8 with Knox device: 1. Attempt to launch a cloud backup application located on the device. 2. Verify the application will not launch. If the MDM console "Allow Google Accounts Auto Sync" check box is selected or on the Samsung Android 8 with Knox device, the user can enable "Back up my data", this is a finding. 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.

Check Text ( C-79919r1_chk )

Review Samsung Android 8 with Knox configuration settings to determine if the capability to back up to a remote system has been disabled.

This validation procedure is performed on the MDM Administration Console and the Samsung device:

On the MDM console, do the following:
1. Ask the MDM Administrator to display the "Allow Google Accounts Auto Sync" check box in the "Android Restrictions" rule.
2. Verify the check box is not selected.
3. View the "application disable list".
4. Verify the list contains all pre-installed cloud backup applications.

On the Samsung Android 8 with Knox device:
1. Attempt to launch a cloud backup application located on the device.
2. Verify the application will not launch.

If the MDM console "Allow Google Accounts Auto Sync" check box is selected or on the Samsung Android 8 with Knox device, the user can enable "Back up my data", this is a finding.

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-87053r1_fix)
Configure the Samsung Android 8 with Knox to disable backup to remote systems (including commercial clouds). On the MDM console, do the following: 1. Deselect the "Allow Google Accounts Auto Sync" check box in the "Android Restrictions" rule. 2. List all pre-installed public cloud backup applications in the application disable list.