id: system_settings_media_sharing_disabled
title: Disable Media Sharing
discussion: |
  Media sharing _MUST_ be disabled.

  When Media Sharing is enabled, the computer starts a network listening service that shares the contents of the user's music collection with other users in the same subnet.

  The information system _MUST_ be configured to provide only essential capabilities. Disabling Media Sharing helps prevent the unauthorized connection of devices and the unauthorized transfer of information. Disabling Media Sharing mitigates this risk.

  Note: On macOS versions prior to 15, the Media Sharing settings panel may still allow you to check "Home Sharing" and "Share media with guests," but the service itself will not be activated.
references:
  nist:
    cce:
      macos_27:
        - CCE-XXXXX-X
      macos_26:
        - CCE-95388-5
      macos_15:
        - CCE-94381-1
      macos_14:
        - CCE-92977-8
    800-53r5:
      - AC-3
      - AC-17
    800-171r3:
      - 03.01.02
      - 03.04.06
  disa:
    cci:
      - CCI-000213
    srg:
      - SRG-OS-000080-GPOS-00048
    disa_stig:
      macos_26:
        - APPL-26-002100
      macos_15:
        - APPL-15-002100
      macos_14:
        - APPL-14-002100
    cmmc:
      - AC.L1-3.1.1
  bzk:
    bio:
      - 8.27
      - 8.27.01
  hhs:
    hicp:
      - 2.L.A
      - 4.L.A
      - 6.L.A
  cis:
    benchmark:
      macos_26:
        - 2.3.3.9 (level 2)
      macos_15:
        - 2.3.3.9 (level 2)
      macos_14:
        - 2.3.3.9 (level 2)
    controls_v8:
      - 4.1
      - 4.8
platforms:
  macOS:
    '27.0': {}
    '26.0':
      benchmarks:
        - name: cis_lvl2
        - name: disa_stig
          severity: medium
        - name: nlmapgov_plus
    '15.0':
      benchmarks:
        - name: cis_lvl2
        - name: disa_stig
          severity: medium
        - name: nlmapgov_plus
    enforcement_info:
      check:
        shell: |-
          /usr/bin/osascript -l JavaScript << EOS
          function run() {
            let pref1 = ObjC.unwrap($.NSUserDefaults.alloc.initWithSuiteName('com.apple.applicationaccess')\
          .objectForKey('allowMediaSharing'))
            let pref2 = ObjC.unwrap($.NSUserDefaults.alloc.initWithSuiteName('com.apple.applicationaccess')\
          .objectForKey('allowMediaSharingModification'))
            if ( pref1 == false && pref2 == false ) {
              return("true")
            } else {
              return("false")
            }
          }
          EOS
        result:
          string: 'true'
    introduced: '-1'
tags:
  - 800-53r5_low
  - 800-53r5_moderate
  - 800-53r5_high
  - 800-171
  - cisv8
  - cnssi-1253_low
  - cnssi-1253_high
  - cmmc_lvl2
  - cmmc_lvl1
  - cnssi-1253_moderate
  - hicp_lp
mobileconfig_info:
  - PayloadType: com.apple.applicationaccess
    PayloadContent:
      - allowMediaSharing: false
      - allowMediaSharingModification: false
