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← Back to Apple macOS 14 (Sonoma) Security Technical Implementation Guide

V-259543

CAT II (Medium)

The macOS system must enable firmware password.

Rule ID

SV-259543r991589_rule

STIG

Apple macOS 14 (Sonoma) Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V2R3

CCIs

CCI-000366

Discussion

A firmware password must be enabled and set. Single user mode, recovery mode, the Startup Manager, and several other tools are available on macOS by holding the "Option" key down during startup. Setting a firmware password restricts access to these tools. To set a firmware passcode use the following command: [source,bash] ---- /usr/sbin/firmwarepasswd -setpasswd ---- Note: If firmware password or passcode is forgotten, the only way to reset the forgotten password is through the use of a machine specific binary generated and provided by Apple. Schedule a support call and provide proof of purchase before the firmware binary will be generated. Note: Firmware passwords are not supported on Apple Silicon devices. This rule is only applicable to Intel devices.

Check Content

For Apple Silicon systems, this is not applicable.

Verify the macOS system is configured with a firmware password with the following command:

/usr/sbin/firmwarepasswd -check | /usr/bin/grep -c "Password Enabled: Yes"

If the result is not "1", this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the macOS system with a firmware password with the following command:

/usr/sbin/firmwarepasswd -setpasswd

Note: If firmware password or passcode is forgotten, the only way to reset the forgotten password is through a machine-specific binary generated and provided by Apple. Users must schedule a support call and provide proof of purchase before the firmware binary will be generated.