{ "name": "stig_blackberry_playbook_os_v2.1", "date": "2014-08-29", "description": "Developed by BlackBerry Ltd. in coordination with DISA for use in the DoD. Comments or proposed revisions to this document should be sent via e-mail to the following address: disa.letterkenny.FSO.mbx.stig-customer-support-mailbox@mail.mil.", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS V2.1 Security Technical Implementation Guide", "version": "1", "item_syntax": "^\\w-\\d+$", "section_separator": null, "items": [ { "id": "V-38703", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must retain the lock work space until the user reestablishes access using established identification and authentication procedures.", "description": "The device lock function prevents further access to the system by initiating a session lock after a period of inactivity or upon receiving a request from a user. The device lock is retained until the user reestablishes access using established identification and authentication procedures.\n\nA device lock is a temporary action taken when a user stops work but does not want to log out because of the temporary nature of the hiatus. During the device lock a publicly viewable pattern is visible on the associated display, hiding what was previously visible on the screen. Once invoked, the device lock shall remain in place until the user re-authenticates. No other system activity aside from re-authentication can unlock the system.\n\nThe operating system must enforce a device lock function. This prevents others from gaining access to the device when not in the user's possession and accessing sensitive DoD information. The identification and authentication procedure configuration must be set by a Mobile Device Management (MDM) service and be sufficiently complex to protect sensitive data.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38704", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must retain the device lock until the user reestablishes access using established identification and authentication procedures.", "description": "The device lock function prevents further access to the system by initiating a session lock after a period of inactivity or upon receiving a request from a user. The device lock is retained until the user reestablishes access using established identification and authentication procedures.\n\nA device lock is a temporary action taken when a user stops work but does not want to log out because of the temporary nature of the hiatus. During the device lock a publicly viewable pattern is visible on the associated display, hiding what was previously visible on the screen. Once invoked, the device lock shall remain in place until the user re-authenticates. No other system activity aside from re-authentication can unlock the system.\n\nThe operating system must enforce a device lock function. This prevents others from gaining access to the device when not in the user's possession and accessing sensitive DoD information. The identification and authentication procedure configuration must be set by a Mobile Device Management (MDM) service and be sufficiently complex to protect sensitive data.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38705", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must lock the device after no more than 15 minutes of inactivity.", "description": "The device lock function prevents further access to the system by initiating a session lock after a period of inactivity or upon receiving a request from a user. The device lock is retained until the user reestablishes access using established identification and authentication procedures.\n\nA device lock is a temporary action taken when a user stops work but does not want to shut down because of the temporary nature of the hiatus. During the device lock a publicly viewable pattern is visible on the associated display, hiding what was previously visible on the screen. Once invoked, the device lock shall remain in place until the user re-authenticates. No other system activity aside from re-authentication can unlock the system.\n\nThe operating system must lock the device after the organization defined time period. This prevents others from gaining access to the device when not in the user's possession and accessing sensitive DoD information. A device lock mitigates the risk that an adversary can access data on an unattended mobile device but only after the maximum of 15 minute period of inactivity.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38706", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must synchronize the internal clock at least once every 24 hours with an authoritative time server or the Global Positioning System.", "description": "Determining the correct time a particular application event occurred on a system is critical when conducting forensic analysis and investigating system events. \n\nPeriodically synchronizing internal clocks with an authoritative time source is needed in order to correctly correlate the timing of events that occur across the enterprise. The two authoritative time sources for mobile operating systems are an authoritative time server which is synchronized with redundant United States Naval Observatory (USNO) time servers as designated for the appropriate DoD network (NIPRNet or SIPRNet) or the Global Positioning System (GPS).\n\nTimestamps generated by the audit system in mobile operating systems shall include both date and time. The time may be expressed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), a modern continuation of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), or local time with an offset from UTC.", "severity": "low" }, { "id": "V-38707", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must disallow the device unlock password from containing fewer than a specified minimum number of upper case alphabetic characters, lower case alphabetic characters, and numeric characters.", "description": "Password complexity or strength refers to how difficult it is to determine a password using a dictionary or brute force attack. Setting minimum numbers of certain types of characters increases password complexity, and therefore makes it more difficult for an adversary to discover the password. In the DoD, the expectation is that the setting will range from a minimum of 1 to 2 upper case alphabetic characters in the device unlock password. The parameter should be selected based on a risk assessment that weighs factors, such as the environments the device will be located and operational requirements for users to access data in a timely manner.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38708", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must disallow the device unlock password from containing fewer than a specified minimum number of lower case alphabetic characters.", "description": "Password complexity or strength refers to how difficult it is to determine a password using a dictionary or brute force attack. Setting minimum numbers of certain types of characters increases password complexity, and therefore makes it more difficult for an adversary to discover the password. In the DoD, the expectation is that the setting will range from a minimum of 1 to 2 lower case characters in the device unlock password. The parameter should be selected based on a risk assessment that weighs factors, such as the environments the device will be located and operational requirements for users to access data in a timely manner.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38709", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must disallow the device unlock password from containing fewer than a specified minimum number of numeric characters.", "description": "Password complexity or strength refers to how difficult it is to determine a password using a dictionary or brute force attack. Setting minimum numbers of certain types of characters increases password complexity, and therefore makes it more difficult for an adversary to discover the password. In the DoD, the expectation is that the setting will range from a minimum of 1 to 2 numeric characters in the device unlock password. The parameter should be selected based on a risk assessment that weighs factors, such as the environments the device will be located and operational requirements for users to access data in a timely manner.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38710", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must enforce a maximum lifetime of 120 days for the device unlock password (password age).", "description": "Changing passcodes regularly prevents an attacker who has compromised the password from re-using it to regain access. This is an unlikely scenario, but is addressed by setting a password expiration. The IA control only needs to be enforced in product level STIGs, if there is a need for such rotation based on the expected operational use of the device.", "severity": "low" }, { "id": "V-38711", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must prohibit a user from reusing any of the last five previously used device unlock passwords.", "description": "Password complexity, or strength, is a measure of the effectiveness of a password in resisting guessing and brute force attacks. Remembering the prior five device unlock passwords enables the operating system from permitting those passwords to be reused, which increases the resistance against password attacks.", "severity": "low" }, { "id": "V-38712", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must enforce a minimum length for the work area password.", "description": "Password complexity, or strength, is a measure of the effectiveness of a password in resisting guessing and brute force attacks. The ability to crack a password is a function of how many times an attempt to crack the password, how quickly the adversary can do each attempt, and the size of the password space. The longer the minimum length of the password is, the larger the password space.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38737", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must enforce a minimum length for the device unlock password.", "description": "Password complexity, or strength, is a measure of the effectiveness of a password in resisting guessing and brute force attacks. The ability to crack a password is a function of how many times an attempt to crack the password, how quickly the adversary can do each attempt, and the size of the password space. The longer the minimum length of the password is, the larger the password space.", "severity": "low" }, { "id": "V-38738", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must not permit mobile service carriers to have privileged access to the operating system or perform any function not directed by the user.", "description": "Permitting mobile service carriers access to the mobile operating system leaves the device vulnerable to breach from rogue elements within the carrier infrastructure. Mobile service carriers are not subject to the same personnel, operational, and technical controls as DoD organizations. For example, its employees in most cases do not have active DoD clearances. When a mobile service carrier must update software or configuration on a mobile device, these updates must come from a DoD approved source, which in many cases is the vendor of the MOS software. Preventing mobile service carrier access to mobile operating systems greatly mitigates the risk associated with this vulnerability.\n\nResearch In Motion does not pre-install any software that would allow carriers to access or manipulate a BlackBerry device. As well, all applications available through App World are tested and monitored for malicious code, and applications must be signed by RIM to allow them to be installed on a BlackBerry Device, and these applications and their permissions must be acknowledged by the user or system administrator before they can be installed. ", "severity": "high" }, { "id": "V-38739", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must prevent a user from installing applications from an untrusted source (other than BlackBerry World) in the personal space.", "description": "The operating system must enforce software installation by users based upon what types of software installations are permitted (e.g., updates and security patches to existing software) and what types of installations are prohibited (e.g., software whose pedigree with regard to being potentially malicious is unknown or suspect) by the organization. The installation and execution of unauthorized software on an operating system may allow the application to obtain sensitive information or further compromise the system. Preventing a user from installing unapproved applications mitigates this risk.", "severity": "high" }, { "id": "V-38740", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must only permit download of software from a DoD approved source (e.g., DoD operated mobile device application store or MDM server).", "description": "DoD can perform due diligence on sources of software to mitigate the risk that malicious software is introduced to those sources. Therefore, if software is downloaded from a DoD approved source, then it is less likely to be malicious than if it is downloaded from an unapproved source. To prevent access to unapproved sources, the operating system in most cases can be configured to disable user access to public application stores. However, in some cases, DoD may approve downloads directly from the OS vendor.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38741", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OSs Wi-Fi module must use EAP-TLS authentication when authenticating to DoD WLAN authentication servers.", "description": "Without strong mutual authentication a mobile device may connect to an unauthorized network. In many cases, the user may falsely believe that the device is connected to an authorized network and then provide authentication credentials and other sensitive information. EAP-TLS is strong mutual authentication leveraging a public key infrastructure. Its use greatly mitigates risk associated with authentication transactions.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38742", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must authenticate devices before establishing remote network (e.g., VPN) connections using bidirectional cryptographically based authentication between devices.", "description": "Without strong mutual authentication a mobile device may connect to an unauthorized network. In many cases, the user may falsely believe that the device is connected to an authorized network and then provide authentication credentials and other sensitive information. A strong bidirectional cryptographically based authentication method mitigates this risk.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38743", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS VPN client must employ DoD PKI approved mechanisms for authentication when connecting to DoD networks.", "description": "VPNs are vulnerable to attack if they are not supported by strong authentication. An adversary may be able gain access to network resources and sensitive information if they can compromise the authentication process. Common Access Card (CAC) authentication is a strong cryptographic two-factor authentication that greatly mitigates the risk of VPN authentication breaches. Other DoD approved PKI mechanisms provide similar levels of assurance.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38744", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OSs VPN client must use either IPSec or SSL/TLS when connecting to DoD networks.", "description": "Use of non-standard communications' protocols can affect both the availability and confidentiality of communications. IPSec and SSL/TLS are both well-known and tested protocols that provide strong assurance with respect to both IA and interoperability.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38746", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must prohibit the use of non-DoD authorized instant messaging (IM) systems.", "description": "Many instant messaging systems have known vulnerabilities, some of which allow an adversary to install malware on the device. This malware can then be used to obtain sensitive information or further compromise DoD information systems. Restricting IM traffic to DoD authorized IM systems mitigates the risk of using IM technology.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38748", "title": "Only DoD PKI issued or DoD approved software authentication certificates may be installed on BlackBerry PlayBook OS.", "description": "If unauthorized software authentication certificates are installed on the device, then the operating system would not block malware signed by the entity that published these certificates. Such malware could be used to obtain sensitive DoD information or to further breach system security. Eliminating unapproved software authentication certificates greatly mitigates the risk of malware passing authentication controls.", "severity": "high" }, { "id": "V-38749", "title": "Only DoD PKI issued or DoD approved server authentication certificates may be installed on BlackBerry PlayBook OS.", "description": "If unauthorized device authentication certificates are installed on the device, there is the potential that the device may connect to a rogue device or network. Rogue devices can mimic the behavior of authorized equipment to trick the user into providing authentication credentials, which could then in turn be used to compromise DoD information and networks. Restricting device authentication certificates to an authorized list mitigates the risk of attaching to rogue devices and networks.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38750", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must prevent a user from using a browser that does not direct its traffic to a DoD proxy server.", "description": "Proxy servers can inspect traffic for malware and other signs of a security attack. Allowing a mobile device to access the public Internet without proxy server inspection forgoes the protection that the proxy server would otherwise provide. Malware downloaded onto the device could have a wide variety of malicious consequences, including loss of sensitive DoD information. Forcing traffic to flow through a proxy server greatly mitigates the risk of access to public Internet resources.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38752", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must employ mobile device management services to centrally manage IT Policies", "description": "Security related parameters are those parameters impacting the security state of the system and include parameters related to the implementation of other IA controls. If these controls are not implemented, the system may be vulnerable to a variety of attacks. The use of an MDM allows an organization to assign values to security related parameters across all the devices it manages. This provides assurance that the required mobile OS security controls are being enforced, and that the device user or an adversary has not modified or disabled the controls. It also greatly increases efficiency and manageability of devices in a large scale environment relative to an environment in which each device must be configured separately.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38753", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must employ mobile device management services to centrally manage email settings", "description": "Security related parameters are those parameters impacting the security state of the system and include parameters related to the implementation of other IA controls. If these controls are not implemented, the system may be vulnerable to a variety of attacks. The use of an MDM allows an organization to assign values to security related parameters across all the devices it manages. This provides assurance that the required mobile OS security controls are being enforced, and that the device user or an adversary has not modified or disabled the controls. It also greatly increases efficiency and manageability of devices in a large scale environment relative to an environment in which each device must be configured separately.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38754", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must employ mobile device management services to centrally manage Wi-Fi profiles", "description": "Security related parameters are those parameters impacting the security state of the system and include parameters related to the implementation of other IA controls. If these controls are not implemented, the system may be vulnerable to a variety of attacks. The use of an MDM allows an organization to assign values to security related parameters across all the devices it manages. This provides assurance that the required mobile OS security controls are being enforced, and that the device user or an adversary has not modified or disabled the controls. It also greatly increases efficiency and manageability of devices in a large scale environment relative to an environment in which each device must be configured separately.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38755", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must employ mobile device management services to centrally manage VPN profiles", "description": "Security related parameters are those parameters impacting the security state of the system and include parameters related to the implementation of other IA controls. If these controls are not implemented, the system may be vulnerable to a variety of attacks. The use of an MDM allows an organization to assign values to security related parameters across all the devices it manages. This provides assurance that the required mobile OS security controls are being enforced, and that the device user or an adversary has not modified or disabled the controls. It also greatly increases efficiency and manageability of devices in a large scale environment relative to an environment in which each device must be configured separately.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38756", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must encrypt all data on the mobile device using AES encryption (AES 128 bit encryption key length is the minimum requirement; AES 256 desired).", "description": "If data at rest is unencrypted, it is vulnerable to disclosure. Even if the operating system enforces permissions on data access, an adversary can remove non-volatile memory and read it directly, thereby circumventing operating system controls. Encrypting the data ensures that confidentiality is protected even when the operating system is not running. AES encryption with appropriate key lengths provides assurance that the cryptography is adequate.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38757", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must prohibit wireless remote access connections except for personal hotspot service.", "description": "The device acts as a personal hotspot when it accepts remote connections on a local area network interface for the purposes of routing traffic to a wide area network interface. The most common implementation is to accept local area Wi-Fi connections to reach ISP service provided by a cellular data carrier. The objective is to ensure the remote devices are not able to access any applications, data, or other operating system functionality on the device. A core assumption of the MOS SRG is that mobile devices do not serve applications to remote devices. If remote access to applications and data were feasible, this would open up a wide variety of vulnerabilities in which an adversary with a remote wireless capability could breach system security. Precluding this possibility greatly mitigates the risk of such an attack.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38758", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must not permit a user to disable the password-protected lock feature on the work space.", "description": "If the user is able to disable the password-protected lock feature, the user can change the configuration of the device to allow access without a password. The modified configuration would enable an adversary with access to the device to obtain DoD information and possibly other information resources on other systems. An operating system that does not allow a user to disable this feature mitigates the risk of this attack. In cases in which the mobile operating system relies on another application for protected data storage (e.g., if FIPS 140-2 validated encryption for unclassified use is not native to the device), then this requirement applies to both the device lock password and the password to the data storage application.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-38759", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS must allow user to configure a non-complex 4 digit password for the personal space.", "description": "If the user is able to disable the password-protected lock feature, the user can change the configuration of the device to allow access without a password. The modified configuration would enable an adversary with access to the device to obtain DoD information and possibly other information resources on other systems. An operating system that does not allow a user to disable this feature mitigates the risk of this attack. In cases in which the mobile operating system relies on another application for protected data storage (e.g., if FIPS 140-2 validated encryption for unclassified use is not native to the device), then this requirement applies to both the device lock password and the password to the data storage application.", "severity": "medium" }, { "id": "V-53891", "title": "BlackBerry PlayBook OS versions no longer supported by the manufacturer or vendor must not be installed on a device.", "description": "Unsupported versions of the operating system do not contain new security-related features and security patches that address known vulnerabilities. Software or hardware no longer supported by the manufacturer or vendor are not maintained or updated for current vulnerabilities leaving them open to potential attack.", "severity": "high" } ] }