2.9 Pair the remote control infrared receiver if enabled

Information

An infrared receiver is a piece of hardware that sends information from an infrared remote control to another device by receiving and decoding signals. If a remote is used with a computer, a specific remote, or 'pair', can be set-up to work with the computer. This will allow only the paired remote to work on that computer. If a remote is needed the receiver should only be accessible by a paired device. Many models do not have infrared hardware. The audit check looks for the hardware first.

Rationale:

An infrared remote can be used from a distance to circumvent physical security controls. A remote could also be used to page through a document or presentation, thus revealing sensitive information. While Apple hardware that still supports infrared is uncommon and has not been manufactured in years it still does exist. This control checks first for the presence of an IR receiver so systems that do not have IR will quickly pass this control check.

Solution

Perform one of the following to implement the prescribed state:
Disable the remote control infrared receiver:

Open System Preferences

Select Security & Privacy

Select the General tab

Select Advanced

Check Disable remote control infrared receiver

Pair a remote control infrared receiver:

Holding the remote close to the computer, point the remote at the front of the computer.

Pair the Apple Remote.

If you have an Apple Remote with seven buttons, press and hold both the Right and Menu buttons on the remote until the paired-remote icon appears on your screen

If you have an Apple Remote with six buttons, press and hold both the Next and Menu buttons on the remote until the paired-remote icon appears on your screen

To disable the IR Receiver through the command line

defaults read /Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleIRController DeviceEnabled -bool no

See Also

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

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL

References: 800-53|AC-19

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 7244cf0f5a04d9a70f87761215fb4a236fd791e83a3860a7f2e6a809a1108901