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Guide to the Secure Configuration of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

Rules, Groups, and Values defined within the XCCDF Benchmark

  • The Installed Operating System Is FIPS 140-2 Certified

    To enable processing of sensitive information the operating system must provide certified cryptographic modules compliant with FIPS 140-2 standard.
    Rule High Severity
  • Install the Policy Auditor (PA) Module

    Install the Policy Auditor (PA) Module.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure Backups of User Data

    The operating system must conduct backups of user data contained in the operating system. The operating system provides utilities for automating backups of user data. Commercial and open-source pro...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Install Virus Scanning Software

    Virus scanning software can be used to protect a system from penetration from computer viruses and to limit their spread through intermediate systems. The virus scanning software should be configu...
    Rule High Severity
  • Install Intrusion Detection Software

    The base Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 platform already includes a sophisticated auditing system that can detect intruder activity, as well as SELinux, which provides host-based intrusion prevention c...
    Rule High Severity
  • McAfee Endpoint Security Software

    In DoD environments, McAfee Host-based Security System (HBSS) and VirusScan Enterprise for Linux (VSEL) is required to be installed on all systems.
    Group
  • The age of McAfee defintion file before requiring updating

    Specify the amount of time (in seconds) before McAfee definition files need to be updated.
    Value
  • Install McAfee Virus Scanning Software

    Install McAfee VirusScan Enterprise for Linux antivirus software which is provided for DoD systems and uses signatures to search for the presence of viruses on the filesystem.
    Rule High Severity
  • Install the McAfee Runtime Libraries and Linux Agent

    Install the McAfee Runtime Libraries (MFErt) and Linux Agent (MFEcma).
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Virus Scanning Software Definitions Are Updated

    Ensure virus definition files are no older than 7 days or their last release.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • McAfee Endpoint Security for Linux (ENSL)

    McAfee Endpoint Security for Linux (ENSL) is a suite of software applications used to monitor, detect, and defend computer networks and systems.
    Group
  • Install McAfee Endpoint Security for Linux (ENSL)

    Install McAfee Endpoint Security for Linux antivirus software which is provided for DoD systems and uses signatures to search for the presence of viruses on the filesystem. The <code>McAfeeTP</cod...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure McAfee Endpoint Security for Linux (ENSL) is running

    Install McAfee Endpoint Security for Linux antivirus software which is provided for DoD systems and uses signatures to search for the presence of viruses on the filesystem.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • McAfee Host-Based Intrusion Detection Software (HBSS)

    McAfee Host-based Security System (HBSS) is a suite of software applications used to monitor, detect, and defend computer networks and systems.
    Group
  • Install the Host Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS) Module

    Install the McAfee Host Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS) Module if it is absolutely necessary. If SELinux is enabled, do not install or enable this module.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure /boot Located On Separate Partition

    It is recommended that the <code>/boot</code> directory resides on a separate partition. This makes it easier to apply restrictions e.g. through the <code>noexec</code> mount option. Eventually, th...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure /home Located On Separate Partition

    If user home directories will be stored locally, create a separate partition for <code>/home</code> at installation time (or migrate it later using LVM). If <code>/home</code> will be mounted from ...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Ensure /opt Located On Separate Partition

    It is recommended that the /opt directory resides on a separate partition.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure /srv Located On Separate Partition

    If a file server (FTP, TFTP...) is hosted locally, create a separate partition for <code>/srv</code> at installation time (or migrate it later using LVM). If <code>/srv</code> will be mounted from ...
    Rule Unknown Severity
  • Ensure /tmp Located On Separate Partition

    The /tmp directory is a world-writable directory used for temporary file storage. Ensure it has its own partition or logical volume at installation time, or migrate it using LVM.
    Rule Low Severity
  • Ensure /usr Located On Separate Partition

    It is recommended that the /usr directory resides on a separate partition.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure /var Located On Separate Partition

    The <code>/var</code> directory is used by daemons and other system services to store frequently-changing data. Ensure that <code>/var</code> has its own partition or logical volume at installation...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Ensure /var/log Located On Separate Partition

    System logs are stored in the /var/log directory. Ensure that /var/log has its own partition or logical volume at installation time, or migrate it using LVM.
    Rule Low Severity
  • Ensure /var/log/audit Located On Separate Partition

    Audit logs are stored in the <code>/var/log/audit</code> directory. Ensure that <code>/var/log/audit</code> has its own partition or logical volume at installation time, or migrate it using LVM. M...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Ensure /var/tmp Located On Separate Partition

    The /var/tmp directory is a world-writable directory used for temporary file storage. Ensure it has its own partition or logical volume at installation time, or migrate it using LVM.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Remove the GDM Package Group

    By removing the <code>gdm</code> package, the system no longer has GNOME installed installed. If X Windows is not installed then the system cannot boot into graphical user mode. This prevents the...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure GNOME3 DConf User Profile

    By default, DConf provides a standard user profile. This profile contains a list of DConf configuration databases. The user profile and database always take the highest priority. As such the DConf ...
    Rule High Severity
  • Configure GNOME Login Screen

    In the default GNOME desktop, the login is displayed after system boot and can display user accounts, allow users to reboot the system, and allow users to login automatically and/or with a guest ac...
    Group
  • Disable the GNOME3 Login Restart and Shutdown Buttons

    In the default graphical environment, users logging directly into the system are greeted with a login screen that allows any user, known or unknown, the ability the ability to shutdown or restart t...
    Rule High Severity
  • Enable the GNOME3 Login Smartcard Authentication

    In the default graphical environment, smart card authentication can be enabled on the login screen by setting <code>enable-smartcard-authentication</code> to <code>true</code>. <br> <br> T...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Enable the GNOME3 Screen Locking On Smartcard Removal

    In the default graphical environment, screen locking on smartcard removal can be enabled by setting <code>removal-action</code> to <code>'lock-screen'</code>. <br> <br> To enable, add or e...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable GDM Automatic Login

    The GNOME Display Manager (GDM) can allow users to automatically login without user interaction or credentials. User should always be required to authenticate themselves to the system that they are...
    Rule High Severity
  • Disable GDM Guest Login

    The GNOME Display Manager (GDM) can allow users to login without credentials which can be useful for public kiosk scenarios. Allowing users to login without credentials or "guest" account access ha...
    Rule High Severity
  • Disable XDMCP in GDM

    XDMCP is an unencrypted protocol, and therefore, presents a security risk, see e.g. <a href="https://help.gnome.org/admin/gdm/stable/security.html.en_GB#xdmcpsecurity">XDMCP Gnome docs</a>. To dis...
    Rule High Severity
  • GNOME Media Settings

    GNOME media settings that apply to the graphical interface.
    Group
  • Disable GNOME3 Automounting

    The system's default desktop environment, GNOME3, will mount devices and removable media (such as DVDs, CDs and USB flash drives) whenever they are inserted into the system. To disable automount wi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable GNOME3 Automount Opening

    The system's default desktop environment, GNOME3, will mount devices and removable media (such as DVDs, CDs and USB flash drives) whenever they are inserted into the system. To disable automount-op...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable GNOME3 Automount running

    The system's default desktop environment, GNOME3, will mount devices and removable media (such as DVDs, CDs and USB flash drives) whenever they are inserted into the system. To disable autorun-neve...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Disable All GNOME3 Thumbnailers

    The system's default desktop environment, GNOME3, uses a number of different thumbnailer programs to generate thumbnails for any new or modified content in an opened folder. To disable the executio...
    Rule Unknown Severity
  • GNOME Network Settings

    GNOME network settings that apply to the graphical interface.
    Group
  • Disable WIFI Network Connection Creation in GNOME3

    <code>GNOME</code> allows users to create ad-hoc wireless connections through the <code>NetworkManager</code> applet. Wireless connections should be disabled by adding or setting <code>disable-wifi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable WIFI Network Notification in GNOME3

    By default, <code>GNOME</code> disables WIFI notification. This should be permanently set so that users do not connect to a wireless network when the system finds one. While useful for mobile devic...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • GNOME Remote Access Settings

    GNOME remote access settings that apply to the graphical interface.
    Group
  • Require Credential Prompting for Remote Access in GNOME3

    By default, <code>GNOME</code> does not require credentials when using <code>Vino</code> for remote access. To configure the system to require remote credentials, add or set <code>authentication-me...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Require Encryption for Remote Access in GNOME3

    By default, <code>GNOME</code> requires encryption when using <code>Vino</code> for remote access. To prevent remote access encryption from being disabled, add or set <code>require-encryption</code...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Screensaver Inactivity timeout

    Choose allowed duration (in seconds) of inactive graphical sessions
    Value
  • Screensaver Lock Delay

    Choose allowed duration (in seconds) after a screensaver becomes active before displaying an authentication prompt
    Value
  • Ensure Users Cannot Change GNOME3 Screensaver Idle Activation

    If not already configured, ensure that users cannot change GNOME3 screensaver lock settings by adding <pre>/org/gnome/desktop/screensaver/idle-activation-enabled</pre> to <code>/etc/dconf/db/local....
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Set GNOME3 Screensaver Inactivity Timeout

    The idle time-out value for inactivity in the GNOME3 desktop is configured via the <code>idle-delay</code> setting must be set under an appropriate configuration file(s) in the <code>/etc/dconf/db/...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Enable GNOME3 Screensaver Lock After Idle Period

    To activate locking of the screensaver in the GNOME3 desktop when it is activated, add or set <code>lock-enabled</code> to <code>true</code> in <code>/etc/dconf/db/local.d/00-security-settings</co...
    Rule Medium Severity

The content of the drawer really is up to you. It could have form fields, definition lists, text lists, labels, charts, progress bars, etc. Spacing recommendation is 24px margins. You can put tabs in here, and can also make the drawer scrollable.

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