macOS
TMA-MACOS14-6.3.1
Ensure Automatic Opening of Safe Files in Safari Is Disabled
Description
Safari will automatically run or execute what it considers safe files. This can include installers and other files that execute on the operating system. Safari evaluates file safety by using a list of filetypes maintained by Apple. The list of files include text, image, video and archive formats that would be run in the context of the OS rather than the browser. Hackers have taken advantage of this setting via drive-by attacks. These attacks occur when a user visits a legitimate website that has been corrupted. The user unknowingly downloads a malicious file either by closing an infected pop-up or hovering over a malicious banner. An attacker can create a malicious file that will fall within Safari's safe file list that will download and execute without user input.
How it is checked
Audit method: Shell command
out=$(/usr/sbin/system_profiler SPConfigurationProfileDataType 2>/dev/null) || exit 1
printf '%s\n' "$out" | /usr/bin/grep -E 'AutoOpenSafeDownloads' | /usr/bin/tr -d ' '- Expected output
AutoOpenSafeDownloads=0;
How it is fixed
Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch
Profile Method: Create or edit a configuration profile with the following information: 1. The PayloadType string is com.apple.Safari 2. The key to include is AutoOpenSafeDownloads 3. The key must be set to: <false/>
Properties
- Operating systems
- macos-14
- Tags
- macossonoma
- Reference
- CIS Apple macOS 14.0 Sonoma Benchmark v3.1.0 - 6.3.1 Ensure Automatic Opening of Safe Files in Safari Is Disabled
Check this host
Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.
tmaegis scan --target macos