2.6.5 Ensure Gatekeeper Is Enabled

Information

Gatekeeper is Apple's application that utilizes allowlisting to restrict downloaded applications from launching. It functions as a control to limit applications from unverified sources from running without authorization. In an update to Gatekeeper in macOS 13 Ventura, Gatekeeper checks every application on every launch, not just quarantined apps.

Disallowing unsigned software will reduce the risk of unauthorized or malicious applications from running on the system.

Solution

Graphical Method:

Perform the following steps to enable Gatekeeper:

- Open System Settings
- Select Privacy & Security
- Set 'Allow apps downloaded from' to 'App Store and identified developers'

Profile Method:

Create or edit a configuration profile with the following information:

- The PayloadType string is com.apple.systempolicy.control
- The key to include is AllowIdentifiedDevelopers
- The key must be set to <true/>
- The key to also include is EnableAssessment
- The key must be set to <true/>

Note: In previous versions of macOS, Gatekeeper could be set using the binary. This has been removed in macOS 15 Sequoia.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/18636

Item Details

Category: SYSTEM AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY

References: 800-53|SI-3, 800-53|SI-16, CSCv7|8.2, CSCv7|8.4

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 2df2a43b897e7fe8a8369a2fef4c231bb69e0aafd94dec0797bcde58ec48cf10