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os_messages_app_disable Disable Messages App

NIST macOS Security Compliance Project Sequoia Guidance, Revision 4.0 (be5491f)
All changes in this version
first version loaded macOS

Title

Disable Messages App

Control

/usr/bin/osascript -l JavaScript << EOS
function run() {
let pref1 = ObjC.unwrap($.NSUserDefaults.alloc.initWithSuiteName('com.apple.applicationaccess.new')\
.objectForKey('familyControlsEnabled'))
let pathlist = $.NSUserDefaults.alloc.initWithSuiteName('com.apple.applicationaccess.new')\
.objectForKey('pathBlackList').js
for ( let app in pathlist ) {
if ( ObjC.unwrap(pathlist[app]) == "/Applications/Messages.app" && pref1 == true ){
return("true")
}
}
return("false")
}
EOS

Discussion

The macOS built-in Messages.app _MUST_ be disabled.

The Messages.app establishes a connection to Apple's iCloud service, even when security controls to disable iCloud access have been put in place.

[IMPORTANT]
====
Apple has deprecated the use of link:https://github.com/apple/device-management/blob/eb51fb0cb9626cac4717858556912c257a734ce0/mdm/profiles/com.apple.applicationaccess.new.yaml#L67-L70[application restriction controls], using these controls may not work as expected. Third party software may be required to fulfill the compliance requirements.
====

Related controls

ac-20, cm-7, cm-7.1

Fix

This is implemented by a Configuration Profile.