Google Android 17 must be configured to enable authentication of personal hotspot connections to the device using a preshared key.

If no authentication is required to establish personal hotspot connections (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth), an adversary may be able to use that device to perform attacks on other devices or networks without detection. A sophisticated adversary may also be able to exploit unknown system vulnerabilities to access information and computing resources on the device. Requiring authentication to establish personal hotspot connections mitigates this risk.

Application note: If hotspot functionality is permitted, it must be authenticated via a preshared key. There is no requirement to enable hotspot functionality, and it is recommended this functionality be disabled by default.

SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #41

This is a User-Based Enforcement (UBE) control.

Check a sample of Pixel phones at the site and verify that the Wi-Fi hotspot preshared key (password) is set to "WPA3-Personal".

1. Go to Settings >> Network & Internet >> Hotspot & tethering. 2. Enable "Wi-Fi hotspot". 3. To the left of the slide, tap on "Wi-Fi Hotspot" to bring up the configuration options. 4. Click on the "Security" link and verify that "WPA3-Personal" is selected.

If the Wi-Fi hotspot security is not set to "WPA3-Personal", this is a finding.

This is a UBE control.

Train users to not change the default Wi-Fi hotspot security setting: 15-character complex Wi-Fi hotspot preshared key (password) ("WPA3-Personal"). (GOOG-17-008300)

If the required preshared key is not set up, train users to use the following procedure to configure the required setting:

1. Go to Settings >> Network & Internet >> Hotspot & tethering. 2. Enable "Wi-Fi hotspot". 3. To the left of the slide, tap on "Wi-Fi Hotspot" to bring up the configuration options. 4. Click on the "Security" link and select "WPA3-Personal".