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Layer 2 Switch Security Requirements Guide

Rules, Groups, and Values defined within the XCCDF Benchmark

  • SRG-NET-000512

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  • SRG-NET-000131

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  • The layer 2 switch must be configured to disable non-essential capabilities.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;A compromised switch introduces risk to the entire network infrastructure as well as data resources that are accessible via t...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000148

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  • The layer 2 switch must uniquely identify all network-connected endpoint devices before establishing any connection.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;Controlling LAN access via 802.1x authentication can assist in preventing a malicious user from connecting an unauthorized PC...
    Rule High Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000168

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  • The layer 2 switch must authenticate all VLAN Trunk Protocol (VTP) messages with a hash function using the most secured cryptographic algorithm available.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;VLAN Trunk Protocol (VTP) provides central management of VLAN domains, thus reducing administration in a switched network. Wh...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000193

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  • The layer 2 switch must manage excess bandwidth to limit the effects of packet flooding types of denial of service (DoS) attacks.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;Denial of service is a condition when a resource is not available for legitimate users. Packet flooding DDoS attacks are refe...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000235

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  • The layer 2 switch must have DHCP snooping for all user VLANs to validate DHCP messages from untrusted sources.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;In an enterprise network, devices under administrative control are trusted sources. These devices include the switches, route...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000362

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  • The layer 2 switch must have IP Source Guard enabled on all user-facing or untrusted access switch ports.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;IP Source Guard provides source IP address filtering on a Layer 2 port to prevent a malicious host from impersonating a legit...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • The layer 2 switch must be configured to fail securely in the event of an operational failure.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;If the switch fails in an unsecure manner (open), unauthorized traffic originating externally to the enclave may enter or the...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000331

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  • The layer 2 switch must provide the capability for authorized users to select a user session to capture.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;Without the capability to select a user session to capture/record or view/hear, investigations into suspicious or harmful eve...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000332

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  • The layer 2 switch must provide the capability for authorized users to remotely view, in real time, all content related to an established user session from a component separate from the layer 2 switch.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;Without the capability to remotely view/hear all content related to a user session, investigations into suspicious user activ...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000343

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  • The layer 2 switch must authenticate all network-connected endpoint devices before establishing any connection.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;Without authenticating devices, unidentified or unknown devices may be introduced, thereby facilitating malicious activity. ...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000362

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  • SRG-NET-000362

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  • The layer 2 switch must have Root Guard enabled on all switch ports connecting to access layer switches and hosts.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) does not provide any means for the network administrator to securely enforce the topology of the...
    Rule Low Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000362

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  • The layer 2 switch must have BPDU Guard enabled on all user-facing or untrusted access switch ports.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;If a rogue switch is introduced into the topology and transmits a Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) with a lower bridge priori...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000362

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  • The layer 2 switch must have STP Loop Guard enabled on all non-designated STP switch ports.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) loop guard feature provides additional protection against STP loops. An STP loop is created ...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000362

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  • The layer 2 switch must have Unknown Unicast Flood Blocking (UUFB) enabled.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;Access layer switches use the Content Addressable Memory (CAM) table to direct traffic to specific ports based on the VLAN nu...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000362

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  • The layer 2 switch must have all trunk links enabled statically.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;When trunk negotiation is enabled via Dynamic Trunk Protocol (DTP), considerable time can be spent negotiating trunk settings...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000512

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  • The layer 2 switch must have all disabled switch ports assigned to an unused VLAN.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;It is possible that a disabled port that is assigned to a user or management VLAN becomes enabled by accident or by an attack...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000512

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  • The layer 2 switch must have Dynamic Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) Inspection (DAI) enabled on all user VLANs.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;DAI intercepts Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests and verifies that each of these packets has a valid IP-to-MAC addre...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000512

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  • The layer 2 switch must have Storm Control configured on all host-facing switch ports.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;A traffic storm occurs when packets flood a LAN, creating excessive traffic and degrading network performance. Traffic storm ...
    Rule Low Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000512

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  • The layer 2 switch must have IGMP or MLD Snooping configured on all VLANs

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;IGMP and MLD snooping provides a way to constrain multicast traffic at Layer 2. By monitoring the IGMP or MLD membership repo...
    Rule Low Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000512

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  • The layer 2 switch must implement Rapid STP where VLANs span multiple switches with redundant links.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is implemented on bridges and switches to prevent layer 2 loops when a broadcast domain spans mu...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000512

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  • The layer 2 switch must enable Unidirectional Link Detection (UDLD) to protect against one-way connections.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;In topologies where fiber optic interconnections are used, physical misconnections can occur that allow a link to appear to b...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000512

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  • The layer 2 switch must not have the default VLAN assigned to any host-facing switch ports.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;In a VLAN-based network, switches use the default VLAN (i.e., VLAN 1) for in-band management and to communicate with other ne...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • The layer 2 switch must have the default VLAN pruned from all trunk ports that do not require it.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;The default VLAN (i.e., VLAN 1) is a special VLAN used for control plane traffic such as Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP), Dynami...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000512

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  • The layer 2 switch must not use the default VLAN for management traffic.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;Switches use the default VLAN (i.e., VLAN 1) for in-band management and to communicate with directly connected switches using...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • SRG-NET-000512

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  • The layer 2 switch must have all user-facing or untrusted ports configured as access switch ports.

    &lt;VulnDiscussion&gt;Double encapsulation can be initiated by an attacker who has access to a switch port belonging to the native VLAN of the trun...
    Rule Medium Severity
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