STIGUI
V-277160CAT II — Medium severitySV-277160r1148932_rule

The macOS system must require users to reauthenticate for privilege escalation when using the "sudo" command.

Rule version APPL-26-004022 · STIG v1 · 2026-09-01

Discussion

The file /etc/sudoers must include a timestamp_timout of 0.

Without reauthentication, users may access resources or perform tasks for which they do not have authorization. When operating systems provide the capability to escalate a functional capability or change user authenticators, it is critical that the user reauthenticate.

Satisfies: SRG-OS-000373-GPOS-00156, SRG-OS-000373-GPOS-00157, SRG-OS-000373-GPOS-00158

Check

Verify the macOS system requires reauthentication when using the "sudo" command to elevate privileges with the following command:

/usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/sudo -V | /usr/bin/grep -c "Authentication timestamp timeout: 0.0 minutes"

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

Fix

Configure the macOS system to require reauthentication when using "sudo" with the following command:

/usr/bin/find /etc/sudoers* -type f -exec sed -i '' '/timestamp_timeout/d' '{}' \; /bin/echo "Defaults timestamp_timeout=0" >> /etc/sudoers.d/mscp

Identifiers

Group ID
V-277160
Group title
SRG-OS-000373-GPOS-00156
Rule ID
SV-277160r1148932_rule
Check ID
C-81315r1148930_chk
Fix ID
F-81220r1148931_fix