macOS
TMA-MACOS14-5.1.6
Ensure No World Writable Folders Exist in the System Folder
Description
Software sometimes insists on being installed in the /System/Volumes/Data/System Directory and has inappropriate world-writable permissions. Macs with writable files in System should be investigated forensically. A file with open writable permissions is a sign of at best a rogue application. It could also be a sign of a computer compromise and a persistent presence on the system. Folders in /System/Volumes/Data/System should not be world-writable. The audit check excludes the downloadDir and locks folders that are part of Apple's default user template.
How it is checked
Audit method: Shell command
[ -d /System/Volumes/Data/System ] || exit 1
/usr/bin/find /System/Volumes/Data/System -type d -perm -2 -ls 2>/dev/null | /usr/bin/grep -vE "downloadDir|locks" | /usr/bin/wc -l | /usr/bin/xargs- Expected output
0
How it is fixed
Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch
Terminal Method: Run the following command to set permissions so that folders are not world-writable in the /System folder: % IFS=$'\n' for sysPermissions in $( /usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/find /System/Volumes/Data/System -type d -perm -2 2>/dev/null | /usr/bin/grep -vE "downloadDir|locks" ); do /bin/chmod -R o-w "$sysPermissions" done
Properties
- Operating systems
- macos-14
- Tags
- macossonoma
- Reference
- CIS Apple macOS 14.0 Sonoma Benchmark v3.1.0 - 5.1.6 Ensure No World Writable Folders Exist in the System Folder
Check this host
Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.
tmaegis scan --target macos