STIGQter: STIG Summary: Apple OS X 10.14 (Mojave) Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 3 Benchmark Date: 23 Apr 2021:

The macOS system must enforce the limit of three consecutive invalid logon attempts by a user before the user account is locked.

DISA Rule

SV-209538r610285_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-209538

Group Title

SRG-OS-000329-GPOS-00128

Rule Version

AOSX-14-000022

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-002238 - The information system automatically locks the account or node for either an organization-defined time period, until the locked account or node is released by an administrator, or delays the next logon prompt according to the organization-defined delay algorithm when the maximum number of unsuccessful logon attempts is exceeded.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

This setting may be enforced using the "Passcode Policy" configuration profile or by a directory service.

To set the passcode policy without a configuration profile, run the following command to save a copy of the current "pwpolicy" account policy file:

/usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/pwpolicy getaccountpolicies | tail -n +2 > pwpolicy.plist

Open the generated file in a text editor and ensure it contains the following text after the opening <dict> tag and before the closing </dict> tag.

Replace <dict/> first with <dict></dict> if necessary.

<key>policyCategoryAuthentication</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>policyContent</key>
<string>(policyAttributeFailedAuthentications < policyAttributeMaximumFailedAuthentications) OR (policyAttributeCurrentTime > (policyAttributeLastFailedAuthenticationTime + autoEnableInSeconds))</string>
<key>policyIdentifier</key>
<string>Authentication Lockout</string>
<key>policyParameters</key>
<dict>
<key>autoEnableInSeconds</key>
<integer>900</integer>
<key>policyAttributeMaximumFailedAuthentications</key>
<integer>3</integer>
</dict>
</dict>
</array>

If the line "<key>policyCategoryAuthentication</key>" already exists, the following text should be used instead and inserted after the first <array> tag that follows it:

<dict>
<key>policyContent</key>
<string>(policyAttributeFailedAuthentications < policyAttributeMaximumFailedAuthentications) OR (policyAttributeCurrentTime > (policyAttributeLastFailedAuthenticationTime + autoEnableInSeconds))</string>
<key>policyIdentifier</key>
<string>Authentication Lockout</string>
<key>policyParameters</key>
<dict>
<key>autoEnableInSeconds</key>
<integer>900</integer>
<key>policyAttributeMaximumFailedAuthentications</key>
<integer>3</integer>
</dict>
</dict>

After saving the file and exiting to the command prompt, run the following command to load the new policy file:

/usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/pwpolicy setaccountpolicies pwpolicy.plist

Note: Updates to passcode restrictions must be thoroughly evaluated in a test environment. Mistakes in configuration or bugs in OS X may block password change and local user creation operations, as well as lock out all local users, including administrators.

Check Contents

Password policy can be set with a configuration profile or the "pwpolicy" utility. If password policy is set with a configuration profile, run the following command to check if the system has the correct setting for the number of permitted failed logon attempts and the logon reset timer:

/usr/sbin/system_profiler SPConfigurationProfileDataType | /usr/bin/grep 'maxFailedAttempts\|minutesUntilFailedLoginReset'

If "maxFailedAttempts" is not set to "3" and "minutesUntilFailedLoginReset" is not set to "15", this is a finding.

If password policy is set with the "pwpolicy" utility, the variable names may vary depending on how the policy was set. To check if the password policy is configured to disable an account for 15 minutes after 3 unsuccessful logon attempts, run the following command to output the password policy to the screen:

/usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/pwpolicy getaccountpolicies

Look for the line "<key>policyCategoryAuthentication</key>".

If this does not exist, and password policy is not controlled by a directory service, this is a finding.

In the array that follows, there should be one or more <dict> sections that describe policy checks. One should contain a <string> that allows users to log on if "policyAttributeFailedAuthentications" is less than "policyAttributeMaximumFailedAuthentications". Under policyParameters, "policyAttributeMaximumFailedAuthentications" should be set to "3".

If "policyAttributeMaximumFailedAuthentications" is not set to "3", this is a finding.

In the same check or in another <dict> section, there should be a <string> that allows users to log on if the "policyAttributeCurrentTime" is greater than the result of adding "15" minutes (900 seconds) to "policyAttributeLastFailedAuthenticationTime". The check might use a variable defined in its "policyParameters" section.

If the check does not exist or if the check adds too great an amount of time, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-209538

Documentable

False

Rule Version

AOSX-14-000022

Severity Override Guidance

Password policy can be set with a configuration profile or the "pwpolicy" utility. If password policy is set with a configuration profile, run the following command to check if the system has the correct setting for the number of permitted failed logon attempts and the logon reset timer:

/usr/sbin/system_profiler SPConfigurationProfileDataType | /usr/bin/grep 'maxFailedAttempts\|minutesUntilFailedLoginReset'

If "maxFailedAttempts" is not set to "3" and "minutesUntilFailedLoginReset" is not set to "15", this is a finding.

If password policy is set with the "pwpolicy" utility, the variable names may vary depending on how the policy was set. To check if the password policy is configured to disable an account for 15 minutes after 3 unsuccessful logon attempts, run the following command to output the password policy to the screen:

/usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/pwpolicy getaccountpolicies

Look for the line "<key>policyCategoryAuthentication</key>".

If this does not exist, and password policy is not controlled by a directory service, this is a finding.

In the array that follows, there should be one or more <dict> sections that describe policy checks. One should contain a <string> that allows users to log on if "policyAttributeFailedAuthentications" is less than "policyAttributeMaximumFailedAuthentications". Under policyParameters, "policyAttributeMaximumFailedAuthentications" should be set to "3".

If "policyAttributeMaximumFailedAuthentications" is not set to "3", this is a finding.

In the same check or in another <dict> section, there should be a <string> that allows users to log on if the "policyAttributeCurrentTime" is greater than the result of adding "15" minutes (900 seconds) to "policyAttributeLastFailedAuthenticationTime". The check might use a variable defined in its "policyParameters" section.

If the check does not exist or if the check adds too great an amount of time, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

2930

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