2.3.3.10 Ensure Bluetooth Sharing Is Disabled

Information

Bluetooth Sharing allows files to be exchanged with Bluetooth-enabled devices. This setting only disables the receiving of files and requires both devices to be paired through Bluetooth as well as accepted by the receiver. This setting does not disable the ability to send files from the device to another paired Bluetooth device.

Bluetooth pairing only requires an acceptance dialog on either device attempting to pair. It does require the Bluetooth pane in System Settings to be open for any macOS device to be discoverable. While it does give a verification code, it does not require either device to enter the code, but just accept the dialog box (on either device). At that point, the two devices are paired and files can be shared through Bluetooth. To receive files through Bluetooth File Exchange application, the user does have to accept the file(s) through a dialog box.

Users should only pair to known trusted Bluetooth devices.

Disabling Bluetooth Sharing minimizes the risk of an attacker using Bluetooth to remotely attack the system.

Solution

Graphical Method:

Perform the following steps to disable Bluetooth Sharing:

- Open System Settings
- Select General
- Select Sharing
- Set Bluetooth Sharing to disabled

Terminal Method:

Run the following command to disable Bluetooth Sharing is disabled:

% /usr/bin/sudo -u <username> /usr/bin/defaults -currentHost write com.apple.Bluetooth PrefKeyServicesEnabled -bool false % /usr/bin/sudo -u firstuser /usr/bin/defaults -currentHost write com.apple.Bluetooth PrefKeyServicesEnabled -bool false

Impact:

There is a general expectation that Bluetooth peripherals will be used by most users in Apple's ecosystem. Disabling sharing should have no impact on the use of Bluetooth peripherals.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/19973

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL, CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT, MEDIA PROTECTION, SYSTEM AND SERVICES ACQUISITION

References: 800-53|AC-3, 800-53|AC-5, 800-53|AC-6, 800-53|CM-2, 800-53|CM-6, 800-53|CM-7, 800-53|CM-7(1), 800-53|CM-9, 800-53|MP-2, 800-53|SA-3, 800-53|SA-8, 800-53|SA-10, CSCv7|4.8, CSCv7|5.1, CSCv7|9.2, CSCv7|14.6

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: c5240136aba29007f7dce8f022d810ccb6c6e7db6d5dbeec475b824dd1d16b70