The macOS system must remove password hints from user accounts.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-268541 | APPL-15-003014 | SV-268541r1034563_rule | Medium |
| Description |
| User accounts must not contain password hints. Password hints leak information about passwords in use and can lead to loss of confidentiality. |
| STIG | Date |
| Apple macOS 15 (Sequoia) Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-05 |
Details
| Check Text (C-72571r1034561_chk) |
| Verify the macOS system is configured to remove password hints from user accounts with the following command: HINT=$(/usr/bin/dscl . -list /Users hint | /usr/bin/awk '{ print $2 }') if [ -z "$HINT" ]; then echo "PASS" else echo "FAIL" fi If the result is not "PASS", this is a finding. |
| Fix Text (F-72472r1034562_fix) |
| Configure the macOS system to remove password hints from user accounts with the following command: for u in $(/usr/bin/dscl . -list /Users UniqueID | /usr/bin/awk '$2 > 500 {print $1}'); do /usr/bin/dscl . -delete /Users/$u hint done |