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Guide to the Secure Configuration of Oracle Linux 8

Rules, Groups, and Values defined within the XCCDF Benchmark

  • Verify permissions on Message of the Day Banner

    To properly set the permissions of /etc/motd, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0644 /etc/motd
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Implement a GUI Warning Banner

    In the default graphical environment, users logging directly into the system are greeted with a login screen provided by the GNOME Display Manager ...
    Group
  • Modify the System Login Banner for Remote Connections

    To configure the system login banner edit <code>/etc/issue.net</code>. Replace the default text with a message compliant with the local site policy...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Modify the System Message of the Day Banner

    To configure the system message banner edit <code>/etc/motd</code>. Replace the default text with a message compliant with the local site policy or...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Ownership of System Login Banner

    To properly set the group owner of /etc/issue, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /etc/issue
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Ownership of System Login Banner for Remote Connections

    To properly set the group owner of /etc/issue.net, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /etc/issue.net
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Ownership of Message of the Day Banner

    To properly set the group owner of /etc/motd, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /etc/motd
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify ownership of System Login Banner

    To properly set the owner of /etc/issue, run the command:
    $ sudo chown root /etc/issue 
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify ownership of System Login Banner for Remote Connections

    To properly set the owner of /etc/issue.net, run the command:
    $ sudo chown root /etc/issue.net 
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify ownership of Message of the Day Banner

    To properly set the owner of /etc/motd, run the command:
    $ sudo chown root /etc/motd 
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Set Lockouts for Failed Password Attempts

    The <code>pam_faillock</code> PAM module provides the capability to lock out user accounts after a number of failed login attempts. Its documentati...
    Group
  • Enable GNOME3 Login Warning Banner

    In the default graphical environment, displaying a login warning banner in the GNOME Display Manager's login screen can be enabled on the login scr...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Set the GNOME3 Login Warning Banner Text

    In the default graphical environment, configuring the login warning banner text in the GNOME Display Manager's login screen can be configured on th...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Protect Accounts by Configuring PAM

    PAM, or Pluggable Authentication Modules, is a system which implements modular authentication for Linux programs. PAM provides a flexible and confi...
    Group
  • Password Hashing algorithm

    Specify the system default encryption algorithm for encrypting passwords. Defines the value set as ENCRYPT_METHOD in /etc/login.defs.
    Value
  • remember

    The last n passwords for each user are saved in <code>/etc/security/opasswd</code> in order to force password change history and keep the user from...
    Value
  • Disallow Configuration to Bypass Password Requirements for Privilege Escalation

    Verify the operating system is not configured to bypass password requirements for privilege escalation. Check the configuration of the "/etc/pam.d/...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Set Up a Private Namespace in PAM Configuration

    To setup a private namespace add the following line to /etc/pam.d/login:
    session    required     pam_namespace.so
    Rule Low Severity
  • fail_deny

    Number of failed login attempts before account lockout
    Value
  • An SELinux Context must be configured for the pam_faillock.so records directory

    The <code>dir</code> configuration option in PAM pam_faillock.so module defines where the lockout records is stored. The configured directory must ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Account Lockouts Must Be Logged

    PAM faillock locks an account due to excessive password failures, this event must be logged.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Account Lockouts Must Persist

    By setting a `dir` in the faillock configuration account lockouts will persist across reboots.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Limit Password Reuse: password-auth

    Do not allow users to reuse recent passwords. This can be accomplished by using the <code>remember</code> option for the <code>pam_pwhistory</code>...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Limit Password Reuse: system-auth

    Do not allow users to reuse recent passwords. This can be accomplished by using the <code>remember</code> option for the <code>pam_pwhistory</code>...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Limit Password Reuse

    Do not allow users to reuse recent passwords. This can be accomplished by using the <code>remember</code> option for the <code>pam_unix</code> or <...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Account Lockouts Must Be Logged

    PAM faillock locks an account due to excessive password failures, this event must be logged.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure the root Account for Failed Password Attempts

    This rule configures the system to lock out the <code>root</code> account after a number of incorrect login attempts using <code>pam_faillock.so</c...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Lock Accounts Must Persist

    This rule ensures that the system lock out accounts using <code>pam_faillock.so</code> persist after system reboot. From "pam_faillock" man pages: ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Set Interval For Counting Failed Password Attempts

    Utilizing <code>pam_faillock.so</code>, the <code>fail_interval</code> directive configures the system to lock out an account after a number of inc...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Do Not Show System Messages When Unsuccessful Logon Attempts Occur

    This rule ensures the system prevents informative messages from being presented to the user pertaining to logon information after a number of incor...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Set Lockout Time for Failed Password Attempts

    This rule configures the system to lock out accounts during a specified time period after a number of incorrect login attempts using <code>pam_fail...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Set Password Quality Requirements

    The default <code>pam_pwquality</code> PAM module provides strength checking for passwords. It performs a number of checks, such as making sure pas...
    Group
  • Configure PAMs passwd Module To Implement system-auth Substack When Changing Passwords

    Verify that pam is configured to use <code>/etc/pam.d/system-auth</code> when changing passwords. Look for the following line in <code>/etc/pam.d/p...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Set Password Quality Requirements, if using pam_cracklib

    The <code>pam_cracklib</code> PAM module can be configured to meet requirements for a variety of policies. <br><br> For example, to configure <code...
    Group
  • Group Name Used by pam_wheel Group Parameter

    pam_wheel module has a parameter called group, which controls which groups can access the su command. This variable holds the valid value for the p...
    Value
  • Set Password Quality Requirements with pam_pwquality

    The <code>pam_pwquality</code> PAM module can be configured to meet requirements for a variety of policies. <br><br> For example, to configure <cod...
    Group
  • dcredit

    Minimum number of digits in password
    Value
  • dictcheck

    Prevent the use of dictionary words for passwords.
    Value
  • difok

    Minimum number of characters not present in old password
    Value
  • lcredit

    Minimum number of lower case in password
    Value
  • maxclassrepeat

    Maximum Number of Consecutive Repeating Characters in a Password From the Same Character Class
    Value
  • maxrepeat

    Maximum Number of Consecutive Repeating Characters in a Password
    Value
  • minclass

    Minimum number of categories of characters that must exist in a password
    Value
  • minlen

    Minimum number of characters in password
    Value
  • ocredit

    Minimum number of other (special characters) in password
    Value
  • retry

    Number of retry attempts before erroring out
    Value
  • ucredit

    Minimum number of upper case in password
    Value
  • Ensure PAM Enforces Password Requirements - Minimum Digit Characters

    The pam_pwquality module's <code>dcredit</code> parameter controls requirements for usage of digits in a password. When set to a negative number, a...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure PAM Enforces Password Requirements - Prevent the Use of Dictionary Words

    The pam_pwquality module's <code>dictcheck</code> check if passwords contains dictionary words. When <code>dictcheck</code> is set to <code>1</code...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure PAM Enforces Password Requirements - Minimum Different Characters

    The pam_pwquality module's <code>difok</code> parameter sets the number of characters in a password that must not be present in and old password du...
    Rule Medium Severity

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