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Guide to the Secure Configuration of Amazon Linux 2023

Rules, Groups, and Values defined within the XCCDF Benchmark

  • Disable Avahi Server if Possible

    Because the Avahi daemon service keeps an open network port, it is subject to network attacks. Disabling it can reduce the system's vulnerability to such attacks.
    Group
  • Uninstall avahi Server Package

    If the system does not need to have an Avahi server which implements the DNS Service Discovery and Multicast DNS protocols, the avahi-autoipd and avahi packages can be uninstalled.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Cron and At Daemons

    The cron and at services are used to allow commands to be executed at a later time. The cron service is required by almost all systems to perform necessary maintenance tasks, while at may or may no...
    Group
  • Enable cron Service

    The <code>crond</code> service is used to execute commands at preconfigured times. It is required by almost all systems to perform necessary maintenance tasks, such as notifying root of system acti...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Who Owns cron.d

    To properly set the group owner of /etc/cron.d, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /etc/cron.d
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Restrict at and cron to Authorized Users if Necessary

    The <code>/etc/cron.allow</code> and <code>/etc/at.allow</code> files contain lists of users who are allowed to use <code>cron</code> and at to delay execution of processes. If these files exist an...
    Group
  • Ensure that /etc/at.deny does not exist

    The file /etc/at.deny should not exist. Use /etc/at.allow instead.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure that /etc/cron.allow exists

    The file /etc/cron.allow should exist and should be used instead of /etc/cron.deny.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure that /etc/cron.deny does not exist

    The file /etc/cron.deny should not exist. Use /etc/cron.allow instead.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Who Owns /etc/at.allow file

    If <code>/etc/at.allow</code> exists, it must be group-owned by <code>root</code>. To properly set the group owner of <code>/etc/at.allow</code>, run the command: <pre>$ sudo chgrp root /etc/at.al...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Who Owns /etc/cron.allow file

    If <code>/etc/cron.allow</code> exists, it must be group-owned by <code>root</code>. To properly set the group owner of <code>/etc/cron.allow</code>, run the command: <pre>$ sudo chgrp root /etc/c...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify User Who Owns /etc/at.allow file

    If <code>/etc/at.allow</code> exists, it must be owned by <code>root</code>. To properly set the owner of <code>/etc/at.allow</code>, run the command: <pre>$ sudo chown root /etc/at.allow </pre> ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify User Who Owns /etc/cron.allow file

    If <code>/etc/cron.allow</code> exists, it must be owned by <code>root</code>. To properly set the owner of <code>/etc/cron.allow</code>, run the command: <pre>$ sudo chown root /etc/cron.allow </...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on /etc/at.allow file

    If <code>/etc/at.allow</code> exists, it must have permissions <code>0640</code> or more restrictive. To properly set the permissions of <code>/etc/at.allow</code>, run the command: <pre>$ sudo c...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on /etc/cron.allow file

    If <code>/etc/cron.allow</code> exists, it must have permissions <code>0640</code> or more restrictive. To properly set the permissions of <code>/etc/cron.allow</code>, run the command: <pre>$ su...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • DHCP

    The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) allows systems to request and obtain an IP address and other configuration parameters from a server. <br> <br> This guide recommends configuring...
    Group
  • Disable DHCP Server

    The DHCP server <code>dhcpd</code> is not installed or activated by default. If the software was installed and activated, but the system does not need to act as a DHCP server, it should be disabled...
    Group
  • Remove ftp Package

    FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a traditional and widely used standard tool for transferring files between a server and clients over a network, especially where no authentication is necessary (perm...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Disable vsftpd if Possible

    To minimize attack surface, disable vsftpd if at all possible.
    Group
  • Uninstall vsftpd Package

    The vsftpd package can be removed with the following command:
     $ sudo dnf remove vsftpd
    Rule High Severity

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