The operating system must generate audit records when successful/unsuccessful attempts to modify security levels occur.

From Apple OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) Workstation Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-000172

SV-74227r1_rule The operating system must generate audit records when successful/unsuccessful attempts to modify security levels occur.

Vulnerability discussion

The permissions on a file establish which users are permitted to access or modify it. An attacker may attempt to change the permissions on a file to prevent legitimate users from accessing it or to grant additional access to an account the attacker controls. Auditing successful and unsuccessful attempts to modify security objects such as file permissions mitigates this risk.

Check content

In order to view the currently configured flags for the audit daemon, run the following command: sudo grep ^flags /etc/security/audit_control Changes to file permissions are logged by way of the 'fm' flag. If 'fm' is not listed in the result of the check, this is a finding.

Fix text

To make sure the appropriate flags are enabled for auditing, run the following command: sudo sed -i.bak '/^flags/ s/$/,fm/' /etc/security/audit_control; sudo audit -s A text editor may also be used to implement the required updates to the /etc/security/audit_control file.

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