APPL-13-003020 - The macOS system must use multifactor authentication for local access to privileged and nonprivileged accounts.

Information

Without the use of multifactor authentication, the ease of access to privileged and nonprivileged functions is greatly increased.

Multifactor authentication requires using two or more factors to achieve authentication.

Factors include:
1) something a user knows (e.g., password/PIN);
2) something a user has (e.g., cryptographic identification device, token); and
3) something a user is (e.g., biometric).

A privileged account is defined as an information system account with authorizations of a privileged user.

Local access is defined as access to an organizational information system by a user (or process acting on behalf of a user) communicating through a direct connection without the use of a network.

The DOD CAC with DOD-approved PKI is an example of multifactor authentication.

Satisfies: SRG-OS-000068-GPOS-00036, SRG-OS-000107-GPOS-00054, SRG-OS-000108-GPOS-00055

Solution

Configure the macOS system to enforce multifactor authentication by installing the 'Smart Card Policy' configuration profile.

Note: To ensure continued access to the operating system, consult the supplemental guidance provided with the STIG before applying the 'Smart Card Policy'.

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_Apple_macOS_13_V1R4_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION

References: 800-53|IA-2(3), 800-53|IA-2(4), 800-53|IA-5(2)(c), CAT|I, CCI|CCI-000187, CCI|CCI-000767, CCI|CCI-000768, Rule-ID|SV-257233r905332_rule, STIG-ID|APPL-13-003020, Vuln-ID|V-257233

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 7e961157e8632ae4000fcaf63aff9f21a59fafc081dcd8445c37af03e4fcd049