id: system_settings_time_server_configure
title: Configure macOS to Use an Authorized Time Server
discussion: |
  Approved time server _MUST_ be the only server configured for use.

  This rule ensures the uniformity of time stamps for information systems with multiple system clocks and systems connected over a network.

  NOTE: As of macOS 10.13 only one time server is supported.
references:
  nist:
    cce:
      macos_27:
        - CCE-XXXXX-X
      macos_26:
        - CCE-95411-5
      macos_15:
        - CCE-94404-1
      macos_14:
        - CCE-92999-2
    800-53r5:
      - AU-12(1)
      - SC-45(1)
    800-171r3:
      - 03.03.07
  disa:
    cci:
      - CCI-001891
      - CCI-002046
      - CCI-004923
      - CCI-004923
      - CCI-004926
      - CCI-004926
    srg:
      - SRG-OS-000355-GPOS-00143
      - SRG-OS-000356-GPOS-00144
    disa_stig:
      macos_26:
        - APPL-26-000170
      macos_15:
        - APPL-15-000170
      macos_14:
        - APPL-14-000170
    cmmc:
      - AU.L2-3.3.7
  bzk:
    bio:
      - 8.17
  cis:
    benchmark:
      macos_26:
        - 2.3.2.1 (level 1)
      macos_15:
        - 2.3.2.1 (level 1)
      macos_14:
        - 2.3.2.1 (level 1)
    controls_v8:
      - 8.4
platforms:
  macOS:
    '27.0': {}
    '26.0':
      benchmarks:
        - name: cis_lvl1
        - name: cis_lvl2
        - name: disa_stig
          severity: medium
        - name: nlmapgov_plus
        - name: nlmapgov_base
    '15.0':
      benchmarks:
        - name: cis_lvl1
        - name: cis_lvl2
        - name: disa_stig
          severity: medium
        - name: nlmapgov_plus
        - name: nlmapgov_base
    enforcement_info:
      check:
        shell: |-
          /usr/bin/osascript -l JavaScript << EOS
          $.NSUserDefaults.alloc.initWithSuiteName('com.apple.MCX')\
          .objectForKey('timeServer').js
          EOS
        result:
          string: $ODV
    introduced: '-1'
odv:
  hint:
    datatype: string
    description: The time server used by your organization, e.g. time.apple.com
  recommended: time.nist.gov
  cis_lvl1: time.apple.com
  cis_lvl2: time.apple.com
  nlmapgov_base: time.apple.com
  nlmapgov_plus: time.apple.com
  disa_stig: time.nist.gov
tags:
  - 800-171
  - 800-53r5_low
  - 800-53r5_moderate
  - 800-53r5_high
  - cisv8
  - cnssi-1253_low
  - cnssi-1253_high
  - cmmc_lvl2
  - cnssi-1253_moderate
mobileconfig_info:
  - PayloadType: com.apple.MCX
    PayloadContent:
      - timeServer: $ODV
