2.6.5 Review Application Firewall Rules

Information

A firewall is a piece of software that blocks unwanted incoming connections to a system. Apple has posted general documentation about the application firewall.

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201642

A computer should have a limited number of applications open to incoming connectivity. This rule will check for whether there are more than 10 rules for inbound connections.

Rationale:

A firewall minimizes the threat of unauthorized users from gaining access to your system while connected to a network or the Internet. Which applications are allowed access to accept incoming connections through the firewall is important to understand.

Solution

Perform the following to implement the prescribed state:

Open System Preferences

Select Security & Privacy

Select Firewall Options

Select unneeded rules

Select the minus sign below to delete them

Alternatively:

Edit and run the following command in Terminal to remove specific applications:

/usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --remove </Applications/badapp.app>



Where </Applications/badapp.app> is the one to be removed

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/3092

Item Details

Category: SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION

References: 800-53|SC-7(12), CSCv6|9.2

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: e09c60872cd47d6b4b43dad60de618ee0c2def82ed89e0583e61b5c72ac0d0f9