Security audits are essential for maintaining the integrity and safety of any computing environment, including macOS. A security audit helps identify vulnerabilities, ensure compliance with security policies, and safeguard sensitive data. In the context of macOS, a security audit involves examining system configurations, user permissions, installed applications, and network settings to detect potential security risks.

In this article, we will cover how to perform a security audit on macOS using built-in tools and commands. We will provide practical examples and step-by-step instructions to help you conduct a thorough security audit on your Apple devices.

Examples:

1. Checking System Integrity Protection (SIP) Status: System Integrity Protection (SIP) is a security feature in macOS that restricts the root user from performing certain actions to protect the system. To check the status of SIP, use the following command in Terminal:

   csrutil status

   The output will indicate whether SIP is enabled or disabled.

2. Reviewing User Accounts and Permissions: To list all user accounts on the system, use the following command:

   dscl . list /Users

   To check the groups a specific user belongs to, use:

   id <username>

   Replace <username> with the actual username you want to check.

3. Checking for Unauthorized SUID/SGID Files: SUID (Set User ID) and SGID (Set Group ID) files can pose security risks if misconfigured. To find all SUID/SGID files on your system, use:

   find / -perm +6000 -type f -exec ls -ld {} \;

4. Reviewing Firewall Settings: macOS includes a built-in firewall that can be configured via the command line. To check the firewall status, use:

   sudo /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --getglobalstate

   To enable the firewall, use:

   sudo /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --setglobalstate on

5. Checking for Open Network Ports: To list all open network ports and the associated services, use:

   sudo lsof -i -P -n | grep LISTEN

6. Reviewing Installed Applications: To list all installed applications, use:

   system_profiler SPApplicationsDataType

   This command provides detailed information about all applications installed on your system.

7. Checking for Security Updates: Keeping your system up to date is crucial for security. To check for available updates, use:

   softwareupdate -l

   To install all available updates, use:

   sudo softwareupdate -ia