The Samsung Knox for Android platform must be configured to implement the management setting: disable Google auto sync.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-56079	KNOX-35-021300	SV-70333r1_rule		Medium

Description
When a user configures their personal Google account on the device, the Google auto sync feature is automatically enabled. This results in the automatic upload and sync of data on the device (including contacts, files, calendar events, user information) to Google cloud servers. With this feature enabled, sensitive information will be backed up to Google's servers and database. This data is stored at a location that has unauthorized employees accessing this data. This data is stored on a server that has a location unknown to the DoD. Disabling this feature mitigates the risk of automatically enabling a backup feature that stores sensitive data on a server that has the potential to be located in a country other than the United States. (Note: Disabling this feature does not disable manual syncing by the user from each application that makes use of the Google account.) SFR ID: FMT_SMF.1.1 #42

Description

When a user configures their personal Google account on the device, the Google auto sync feature is automatically enabled. This results in the automatic upload and sync of data on the device (including contacts, files, calendar events, user information) to Google cloud servers. With this feature enabled, sensitive information will be backed up to Google's servers and database. This data is stored at a location that has unauthorized employees accessing this data. This data is stored on a server that has a location unknown to the DoD. Disabling this feature mitigates the risk of automatically enabling a backup feature that stores sensitive data on a server that has the potential to be located in a country other than the United States. (Note: Disabling this feature does not disable manual syncing by the user from each application that makes use of the Google account.) SFR ID: FMT_SMF.1.1 #42

STIG	Date
Samsung Android (with Knox 2.x) STIG	2015-05-20

Details

Check Text ( C-56649r1_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 "Google Auto Sync" setting in the "Android Restrictions" rule. 2. Verify the setting is disabled. On the Samsung Knox for Android device: 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 "Google Auto Sync" configuration in the MDM console is enabled, or if the user is able to enable auto sync, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-56649r1_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 "Google Auto Sync" setting in the "Android Restrictions" rule.
2. Verify the setting is disabled.

On the Samsung Knox for Android device:
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 "Google Auto Sync" configuration in the MDM console is enabled, or if the user is able to enable auto sync, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-60957r1_fix)
Configure the mobile operating system to disable Google Auto Sync. On the MDM Administration Console, disable the "Google Auto Sync" setting in the "Android Restrictions" rule.