Guide to the Secure Configuration of Apple macOS 10.15
https://github.com/ComplianceAsCode/content
Providing system administrators with such guidance informs them how to securely configure systems under their control in a variety of network roles. Policy makers and baseline creators can use this catalog of settings, with its associated references to higher-level security control catalogs, in order to assist them in security baseline creation. This guide is a catalog, not a checklist, and satisfaction of every item is not likely to be possible or sensible in many operational scenarios. However, the XCCDF format enables granular selection and adjustment of settings, and their association with OVAL and OCIL content provides an automated checking capability. Transformations of this document, and its associated automated checking content, are capable of providing baselines that meet a diverse set of policy objectives. Some example XCCDF Profiles, which are selections of items that form checklists and can be used as baselines, are available with this guide. They can be processed, in an automated fashion, with tools that support the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP). The DISA STIG, which provides required settings for US Department of Defense systems, is one example of a baseline created from this guidance.
Profile Information
Profile ID | (default) |
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CPE Platforms
- cpe:/o:apple:macos:10.15
Revision History
Current version: 0.1.51
- draft (as of 2020-07-20)
Table of Contents
- Remediation functions used by the SCAP Security Guide Project
- Services
- Introduction
- System Accounting with audit
Checklist
Group Guide to the Secure Configuration of Apple macOS 10.15 | |
Group Remediation functions used by the SCAP Security Guide Project | |
[ref] XCCDF form of the various remediation functions as used by remediation scripts from the SCAP Security Guide Project. | |
Group Services | |
[ref]
The best protection against vulnerable software is running less software. This section describes how to review
the software which Apple macOS 10.15 installs on a system and disable software which is not needed. It
then enumerates the software packages installed on a default Apple macOS 10.15 system and provides guidance about which
ones can be safely disabled.
| |
Group Introduction | |
[ref] The purpose of this guidance is to provide security configuration recommendations and baselines for the Apple macOS 10.15 operating system. Recommended settings for the basic operating system are provided, as well as for many network services that the system can provide to other systems. The guide is intended for system administrators. Readers are assumed to possess basic system administration skills for Unix-like systems, as well as some familiarity with the product's documentation and administration conventions. Some instructions within this guide are complex. All directions should be followed completely and with understanding of their effects in order to avoid serious adverse effects on the system and its security. | |
Group How to Use This Guide | |
[ref] Readers should heed the following points when using the guide. | |
Group Formatting Conventions | |
[ref]
Commands intended for shell execution, as well as configuration file text,
are featured in a | |
Group Test in Non-Production Environment | |
[ref] This guidance should always be tested in a non-production environment before deployment. This test environment should simulate the setup in which the system will be deployed as closely as possible. | |
Group Reboot Required | |
[ref] A system reboot is implicitly required after some actions in order to complete the reconfiguration of the system. In many cases, the changes will not take effect until a reboot is performed. In order to ensure that changes are applied properly and to test functionality, always reboot the system after applying a set of recommendations from this guide. | |
Group Root Shell Environment Assumed | |
[ref]
Most of the actions listed in this document are written with the
assumption that they will be executed by the root user running the
| |
Group Read Sections Completely and in Order | |
[ref] Each section may build on information and recommendations discussed in prior sections. Each section should be read and understood completely; instructions should never be blindly applied. Relevant discussion may occur after instructions for an action. | |
Group General Principles | |
[ref] The following general principles motivate much of the advice in this guide and should also influence any configuration decisions that are not explicitly covered. | |
Group Encrypt Transmitted Data Whenever Possible | |
[ref] Data transmitted over a network, whether wired or wireless, is susceptible to passive monitoring. Whenever practical solutions for encrypting such data exist, they should be applied. Even if data is expected to be transmitted only over a local network, it should still be encrypted. Encrypting authentication data, such as passwords, is particularly important. Networks of Apple macOS 10.15 machines can and should be configured so that no unencrypted authentication data is ever transmitted between machines. | |
Group Configure Security Tools to Improve System Robustness | |
[ref] Several tools exist which can be effectively used to improve a system's resistance to and detection of unknown attacks. These tools can improve robustness against attack at the cost of relatively little configuration effort. In particular, this guide recommends and discusses the use of host-based firewalling, a logging, and auditing infrastructure for detection of problems. | |
Group Run Different Network Services on Separate Systems | |
[ref] Whenever possible, a server should be dedicated to serving exactly one network service. This limits the number of other services that can be compromised in the event that an attacker is able to successfully exploit a software flaw in one network service. | |
Group Minimize Software to Minimize Vulnerability | |
[ref] The simplest way to avoid vulnerabilities in software is to avoid installing that software. Apple macOS 10.15 allows for careful management of the set of software packages installed on a system. Installed software contributes to system vulnerability in several ways. Packages that include setuid programs may provide local attackers a potential path to privilege escalation. Packages that include network services may give this opportunity to network-based attackers. Packages that include programs which are predictably executed by local users (e.g. after graphical login) may provide opportunities for trojan horses or other attack code to be run undetected. The number of software packages installed on a system can almost always be significantly pruned to include only the software for which there is an environmental or operational need. | |
Group Least Privilege | |
[ref]
Grant the least privilege necessary for user accounts and software to perform tasks.
For example, | |
Group System Accounting with audit | |
[ref]
The Basic Security Module (BSM) security audit API and file format is Apple's
auditing system. The audit() function submits a record to the kernel for inclusion in the
global audit trail. The record must already be in BSM format. To protect
the integrity of the audit trail, this system call must be made with sufficient
privileges. Libbsm can be used to create and manipulate BSM data. Length
is the length in bytes of the BSM record and record points to the data.
The audit service provides substantial capabilities for recording system
activities. Secure networks often have substantial auditing
requirements, and | |
Group Configure auditd | |
[ref]
The |