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XCCDF
Samsung Android 14 MDFPP 3.3 BYOAD Security Technical Implementation Guide
Samsung Android 14 MDFPP 3.3 BYOAD Security Technical Implementation Guide
An XCCDF Benchmark
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File Metadata
25 rules organized in 25 groups
PP-MDF-333160
1 Rule
Samsung Android must be configured to display the DOD advisory warning message at startup or each time the user unlocks the device.
Low Severity
Before granting access to the system, the mobile operating system is required to display the DOD-approved system use notification message or banner that provides privacy and security notices consistent with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, and guidance. Required banners help ensure that DOD can audit and monitor the activities of mobile device users without legal restriction. System use notification messages can be displayed when individuals first access or unlock the mobile device. The banner must be implemented as a "click-through" banner at device unlock (to the extent permitted by the operating system). A "click-through" banner prevents further activity on the information system unless and until the user executes a positive action to manifest agreement by clicking on a box indicating "OK." The approved DOD text must be used exactly as required in the Knowledge Service referenced in DODI 8500.01. For devices accommodating banners of 1300 characters, the banner text is: You are accessing a U.S. Government (USG) Information System (IS) that is provided for USG-authorized use only. By using this IS (which includes any device attached to this IS), you consent to the following conditions: -The USG routinely intercepts and monitors communications on this IS for purposes including, but not limited to, penetration testing, COMSEC monitoring, network operations and defense, personnel misconduct (PM), law enforcement (LE), and counterintelligence (CI) investigations. -At any time, the USG may inspect and seize data stored on this IS. -Communications using, or data stored on, this IS are not private, are subject to routine monitoring, interception, and search, and may be disclosed or used for any USG-authorized purpose. -This IS includes security measures (e.g., authentication and access controls) to protect USG interests--not for your personal benefit or privacy. -Notwithstanding the above, using this IS does not constitute consent to PM, LE, or CI investigative searching or monitoring of the content of privileged communications, or work product, related to personal representation or services by attorneys, psychotherapists, or clergy, and their assistants. Such communications and work product are private and confidential. Refer to User Agreement for details. For devices with severe character limitations, the banner text is: I've read & consent to terms in IS user agreem't. The Administrator must configure the banner text exactly as written without any changes. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #36
PP-MDF-333025
1 Rule
Samsung Android must be configured to not allow passwords that include more than four repeating or sequential characters.
Medium Severity
Password strength is a measure of the effectiveness of a password in resisting guessing and brute force attacks. Passwords that contain repeating or sequential characters are significantly easier to guess than those that do not. Therefore, disallowing repeating or sequential characters increases password strength and decreases risk. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #1b
PP-MDF-333024
1 Rule
Samsung Android must be configured to enforce a minimum password length of six characters.
Medium Severity
Password strength is a measure of the effectiveness of a password in resisting guessing and brute force attacks. The ability to crack a password is a function of how many attempts an adversary is permitted, how quickly an adversary can complete each attempt, and the size of the password space. The longer the minimum length of the password is, the larger the password space. Having a too-short minimum password length significantly reduces password strength, increasing the chance of password compromise and resulting device and data compromise. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #1a
PP-MDF-333040
1 Rule
Samsung Android must be configured to not allow more than 10 consecutive failed authentication attempts.
Medium Severity
The more attempts an adversary has to guess a password, the more likely the adversary will enter the correct password and gain access to resources on the device. Setting a limit on the number of attempts mitigates this risk. Setting the limit at 10 or fewer attempts gives authorized users the ability to make a few mistakes when entering the password but still provides adequate protection against dictionary or brute force attacks on the password. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #2c, FIA_AFL_EXT.1.5
PP-MDF-333026
1 Rule
Samsung Android must be configured to lock the display after 15 minutes (or less) of inactivity.
Medium Severity
The screen lock timeout must be set to a value that helps protect the device from unauthorized access. Having a too-long timeout would increase the window of opportunity for adversaries who gain physical access to the mobile device through loss, theft, etc. Such devices are much more likely to be in an unlocked state when acquired by an adversary, thus granting immediate access to the data on the mobile device. The maximum timeout period of 15 minutes has been selected to balance functionality and security; shorter timeout periods may be appropriate depending on the risks posed to the mobile device. Satisfies: PP-MDF-333026,PP-MDF-333030 SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #2a, 2bb
PP-MDF-333110
1 Rule
Samsung Android must be configured to disable authentication mechanisms providing user access to protected data other than a Password Authentication Factor: Face recognition.
Medium Severity
The biometric factor can be used to authenticate the user to unlock the mobile device. Unapproved/evaluated biometric mechanisms could allow unauthorized users to have access to DOD sensitive data if compromised. By not permitting the use of unapproved/evaluated biometric authentication mechanisms, this risk is mitigated. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #22, FIA_UAU.5.1
PP-MDF-333030
1 Rule
Samsung Android must be configured to enable a screen-lock policy that will lock the display after a period of inactivity - Disable trust agents.
Medium Severity
The screen lock timeout must be set to a value that helps protect the device from unauthorized access. Having a too-long timeout would increase the window of opportunity for adversaries who gain physical access to the mobile device through loss, theft, etc. Such devices are much more likely to be in an unlocked state when acquired by an adversary, thus granting immediate access to the data on the mobile device. The maximum timeout period of 15 minutes has been selected to balance functionality and security; shorter timeout periods may be appropriate depending on the risks posed to the mobile device. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #2a
PP-MDF-993300
1 Rule
Samsung Android's Work profile must have the DOD root and intermediate PKI certificates installed.
Medium Severity
DOD root and intermediate PKI certificates are used to verify the authenticity of PKI certificates of users and web services. If the root and intermediate certificates are not available, an adversary could falsely sign a certificate in such a way that it could not be detected. Providing access to the DOD root and intermediate PKI certificates greatly diminishes the risk of this attack. SFR ID: FMT_MOF_EXT.1.2 #47
PP-MDF-333060
1 Rule
Samsung Android's Work profile must be configured to enforce an application installation policy by specifying an application allowlist that restricts applications by the following characteristics: Names.
Medium Severity
The application allowlist, in addition to controlling the installation of applications on the MD, must control user access/execution of all core and preinstalled applications, or the MD must provide an alternate method of restricting user access/execution to core and preinstalled applications. Core application: Any application integrated into the OS by the OS or MD vendors. Preinstalled application: Additional noncore applications included in the OS build by the OS vendor, MD vendor, or wireless carrier. Requiring all authorized applications to be in an application allowlist prevents the execution of any applications (e.g., unauthorized, malicious) that are not part of the allowlist. Failure to configure an application allowlist properly could allow unauthorized and malicious applications to be downloaded, installed, and executed on the mobile device, causing a compromise of DOD data accessible by these applications. The application allowlist, in addition to controlling the installation of applications on the MD, must control user access/execution of all core applications (included in the OS by the OS vendor) and preinstalled applications (provided by the MD vendor and wireless carrier), or the MD must provide an alternate method of restricting user access/execution to core and preinstalled applications. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #8b
PP-MDF-333070
1 Rule
Samsung Android's Work profile must be configured to not allow installation of applications with the following characteristics: - Back up MD data to non-DOD cloud servers (including user and application access to cloud backup services); - Transmit MD diagnostic data to non-DOD servers; - Voice assistant application if available when MD is locked; - Voice dialing application if available when MD is locked; - Allows synchronization of data or applications between devices associated with user; and - Allows unencrypted (or encrypted but not FIPS 140-3 validated) data sharing with other MDs or printers. - Apps which backup their own data to a remote system.
Medium Severity
Requiring all authorized applications to be in an application allowlist prevents the execution of any applications (e.g., unauthorized, malicious) that are not part of the allowlist. Failure to configure an application allowlist properly could allow unauthorized and malicious applications to be downloaded, installed, and executed on the mobile device, causing a compromise of DOD data accessible by these applications. Applications with the listed characteristics have features that can cause the compromise of sensitive DOD data or have features with no known application in the DOD environment. Application note: The application allowlist, in addition to controlling the installation of applications on the MD, must control user access/execution of all core and preinstalled applications, or the MD must provide an alternate method of restricting user access/execution to core and preinstalled applications. Core application: Any application integrated into the OS by the OS or MD vendors. Preinstalled application: Additional noncore applications included in the OS build by the OS vendor, MD vendor, or wireless carrier. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #8b
PP-MDF-333080
1 Rule
Samsung Android must be configured to not display the following (Work Environment) notifications when the device is locked: All notifications.
Medium Severity
Many mobile devices display notifications on the lock screen so that users can obtain relevant information in a timely manner without having to frequently unlock the phone to determine if there are new notifications. However, in many cases, these notifications can contain sensitive information. When they are available on the lock screen, an adversary can see them merely by being in close physical proximity to the device. Configuring the MOS to not send notifications to the lock screen mitigates this risk. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #18
PP-MDF-993300
1 Rule
Samsung Android's Work profile must be configured to prevent users from adding personal email accounts to the work email app.
Medium Severity
If the user is able to add a personal email account (POP3, IMAP, EAS) to the work email app, it could be used to forward sensitive DOD data to unauthorized recipients. Restricting email account addition to the Administrator or to allowlisted accounts mitigates this vulnerability. SFR ID: FMT_MOF_EXT.1.2 #47
PP-MDF-333250
1 Rule
Samsung Android's Work profile must be configured to not allow backup of all applications, configuration data to remote systems.- Disable Data Sync Framework.
Medium Severity
Backups to remote systems (including cloud backup) can leave data vulnerable to breach on the external systems, which often offer less protection than the MOS. Where the remote backup involves a cloud-based solution, the backup capability is often used to synchronize data across multiple devices. In this case, DOD devices may synchronize DOD sensitive information to a user's personal device or other unauthorized computers that are vulnerable to breach. The Data Sync Framework allows apps to synchronize data between the mobile device and other web based services. This uses accounts for services the user has added to the mobile device. Preventing the user from adding accounts to the device mitigates this risk. For BYOD Work profile data cannot be backed up remotely via Backup Services. Work profile data could be backed up thru adding an account to an app that supports the data sync framework, however, this is mitigated by preventing adding any accounts to the Work profile. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #40
PP-MDF-333280
1 Rule
Samsung Android's Work profile must be configured to disable exceptions to the access control policy that prevent application processes and groups of application processes from accessing all data stored by other application processes and groups of application processes.
Medium Severity
App data sharing gives apps the ability to access the data of other apps for enhanced user functionality. However, sharing also poses a significant risk that unauthorized users or apps will obtain access to DOD sensitive information. To mitigate this risk, there are data sharing restrictions, primarily from sharing data from personal (unmanaged) apps and work (managed) apps. If a user is allowed to make exceptions to the data sharing restriction policy, the user could enable unauthorized sharing of data, leaving it vulnerable to breach. Limiting the granting of exceptions to either the Administrator or common application developer mitigates this risk. Copy/paste of data between applications in different application processes or groups of application processes is considered an exception to the access control policy and therefore, the Administrator must be able to enable/disable the feature. Other exceptions include allowing any data or application sharing between process groups. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #42, FDP_ACF_EXT.1.2
PP-MDF-333350
1 Rule
Samsung Android's Work profile must allow only the Administrator (management tool) to perform the following management function: Install/remove DOD root and intermediate PKI certificates.
Medium Severity
DOD root and intermediate PKI certificates are used to verify the authenticity of PKI certificates of users and web services. If the user is allowed to remove root and intermediate certificates, the user could allow an adversary to falsely sign a certificate in such a way that it could not be detected. Restricting the ability to remove DOD root and intermediate PKI certificates to the Administrator mitigates this risk. SFR ID: FMT_MOF_EXT.1.2 #47
PP-MDF-333050
1 Rule
Samsung Android must be configured to enforce an application installation policy by specifying one or more authorized application repositories, including DOD-approved commercial app repository, management tool server, or mobile application store.
Medium Severity
Forcing all applications to be installed from authorized application repositories can prevent unauthorized and malicious applications from being installed and executed on mobile devices. Allowing such installations and executions could cause a compromise of DOD data accessible by these unauthorized/malicious applications. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #8a
PP-MDF-993300
1 Rule
Samsung Android device users must complete required training.
Medium Severity
The security posture of Samsung devices requires the device user to configure several required policy rules on their device. User-Based Enforcement (UBE) is required for these controls. In addition, if the Authorizing Official (AO) has approved the use of an unmanaged personal space, the user must receive training on risks. If a user is not aware of their responsibilities and does not comply with UBE requirements, the security posture of the Samsung mobile device may become compromised, and DOD sensitive data may become compromised. SFR ID: FMT_MOF_EXT.1.2 #47
PP-MDF-993300
1 Rule
The Samsung Android device must have the latest available Samsung Android operating system (OS) installed.
High Severity
Required security features are not available in earlier OS versions. In addition, earlier versions may have known vulnerabilities. SFR ID: FMT_MOF_EXT.1.2 #47
PP-MDF-331090
1 Rule
Samsung Android 14 must prohibit DOD VPN profiles in the Personal Profile.
Low Severity
If DOD VPN profiles are configured in the Personal Profile DOD sensitive data world be at risk of compromise and the DOD network could be at risk of being attacked by malware installed on the device. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #3
PP-MDF-993300
1 Rule
The Samsung Android device must be configured to enable Certificate Revocation List (CRL) status checking.
Medium Severity
A CRL allows a certificate issuer to revoke a certificate for any reason, including improperly issued certificates and compromise of the private keys. Checking the revocation status of the certificate mitigates the risk associated with using a compromised certificate. For this reason, users must not be able to disable this configuration. Samsung Android can control CRL checking but only using Knox APIs. Alternatively, CRL checking is based on app development best practice. SFR ID: FMT_MOF_EXT.1.2 #47
PP-MDF-993300
1 Rule
The Samsung Android device work profile must be configured to enforce the system application disable list.
Medium Severity
The system application disable list controls user access to/execution of all core and preinstalled applications. Core application: Any application integrated into Samsung Android 14 by Samsung. Preinstalled application: Additional noncore applications included in the Samsung Android 14 build by Samsung or the wireless carrier. Some system applications can compromise DOD data or upload users' information to non-DOD-approved servers. A user must be blocked from using such applications that exhibit behavior that can result in compromise of DOD data or DOD user information. The site administrator must analyze all preinstalled applications on the device and disable all applications not approved for DOD use by configuring the system application disable list. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #47
PP-MDF-993300
1 Rule
The Samsung Android device work profile must be configured to disable automatic completion of workspace internet browser text input.
Medium Severity
The autofill functionality in the web browser allows the user to complete a form that contains sensitive information, such as personally identifiable information (PII), without previous knowledge of the information. By allowing the use of autofill functionality, an adversary who learns a user's Android 14 device password, or who otherwise is able to unlock the device, may be able to further breach other systems by relying on the autofill feature to provide information unknown to the adversary. By disabling the autofill functionality, the risk of an adversary gaining further information about the device's user or compromising other systems is significantly mitigated. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #47
PP-MDF-993300
1 Rule
The Samsung Android device work profile must be configured to disable the autofill services.
Medium Severity
The autofill services allow the user to complete text inputs that could contain sensitive information, such as personally identifiable information (PII), without previous knowledge of the information. By allowing the use of autofill services, an adversary who learns a user's Android 14 device password, or who otherwise is able to unlock the device, may be able to further breach other systems by relying on the autofill services to provide information unknown to the adversary. By disabling the autofill services, the risk of an adversary gaining further information about the device's user or compromising other systems is significantly mitigated. Examples of apps that offer autofill services include Samsung Pass, Google, Dashlane, LastPass, and 1Password. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #47
PP-MDF-993300
1 Rule
The Samsung Android device must be configured to disable the use of third-party keyboards.
Low Severity
Many third-party keyboard applications are known to contain malware. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #47
PP-MDF-993300
1 Rule
Samsung Android must be enrolled as a BYOD device.
Medium Severity
The Work profile is the designated application group for the BYOD use case. SFR ID: FMT_MOF_EXT.1.2 #47