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Guide to the Secure Configuration of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

Rules, Groups, and Values defined within the XCCDF Benchmark

  • X Window System

    The X Window System implementation included with the system is called X.org.
    Group
  • Remove the X Windows Package Group

    By removing the xorg-x11-server-common package, the system no longer has X Windows installed. If X Windows is not installed then the system cannot ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable graphical user interface

    By removing the following packages, the system no longer has X Windows installed. <code>xorg-x11-server-Xorg xorg-x11-server-common xorg-x11-serv...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable X Windows Startup By Setting Default Target

    Systems that do not require a graphical user interface should only boot by default into <code>multi-user.target</code> mode. This prevents accident...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Introduction

    The purpose of this guidance is to provide security configuration recommendations and baselines for the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 operating system...
    Group
  • General Principles

    The following general principles motivate much of the advice in this guide and should also influence any configuration decisions that are not expli...
    Group
  • Encrypt Transmitted Data Whenever Possible

    Data transmitted over a network, whether wired or wireless, is susceptible to passive monitoring. Whenever practical solutions for encrypting such ...
    Group
  • Least Privilege

    Grant the least privilege necessary for user accounts and software to perform tasks. For example, <code>sudo</code> can be implemented to limit aut...
    Group
  • Minimize Software to Minimize Vulnerability

    The simplest way to avoid vulnerabilities in software is to avoid installing that software. On Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8,the RPM Package Manager (...
    Group
  • Run Different Network Services on Separate Systems

    Whenever possible, a server should be dedicated to serving exactly one network service. This limits the number of other services that can be compro...
    Group
  • Configure Security Tools to Improve System Robustness

    Several tools exist which can be effectively used to improve a system's resistance to and detection of unknown attacks. These tools can improve rob...
    Group
  • Formatting Conventions

    Commands intended for shell execution, as well as configuration file text, are featured in a <code>monospace font</code>. <i>Italics</i> are used t...
    Group
  • Read Sections Completely and in Order

    Each section may build on information and recommendations discussed in prior sections. Each section should be read and understood completely; instr...
    Group
  • Reboot Required

    A system reboot is implicitly required after some actions in order to complete the reconfiguration of the system. In many cases, the changes will n...
    Group
  • Root Shell Environment Assumed

    Most of the actions listed in this document are written with the assumption that they will be executed by the root user running the <code>/bin/bash...
    Group
  • Test in Non-Production Environment

    This guidance should always be tested in a non-production environment before deployment. This test environment should simulate the setup in which t...
    Group
  • Set existing passwords a period of inactivity before they been locked

    Configure user accounts that have been inactive for over a given period of time to be automatically disabled by running the following command: <pre...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Restrict unprivileged access to the kernel syslog

    Enforce restrictions on unprivileged users reading the kernel syslog via dmesg(8). The configuration that was used to build kernel is available at...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions and Ownership of Old Passwords File

    To properly set the owner of <code>/etc/security/opasswd</code>, run the command: <pre>$ sudo chown root /etc/security/opasswd </pre> To properly ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Who Owns /etc/shells File

    To properly set the group owner of /etc/shells, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /etc/shells
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Who Owns /etc/shells File

    To properly set the owner of /etc/shells, run the command:
    $ sudo chown root /etc/shells 
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on group File

    To properly set the permissions of /etc/group, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0644 /etc/group
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on /etc/shells File

    To properly set the permissions of /etc/shells, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0644 /etc/shells
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Add nosuid Option to /var

    The <code>nosuid</code> mount option can be used to prevent execution of setuid programs in <code>/var</code>. The SUID and SGID permissions should...
    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 the Group Used by pam_wheel.so Module Exists on System and is Empty

    Ensure that the group <code><xccdf-1.2:sub idref="xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_value_var_pam_wheel_group_for_su" use="legacy"></xccdf-1.2:sub></cod...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure Authentication Required for Single User Mode

    Single user mode is used for recovery when the system detects an issue during boot or by manual selection from the bootloader.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify File Hashes with RPM

    Without cryptographic integrity protections, system executables and files can be altered by unauthorized users without detection. The RPM package m...
    Rule High Severity
  • Verify and Correct Ownership with RPM

    The RPM package management system can check file ownership permissions of installed software packages, including many that are important to system ...
    Rule High Severity
  • Verify and Correct File Permissions with RPM

    The RPM package management system can check file access permissions of installed software packages, including many that are important to system sec...
    Rule High Severity
  • Configure SSH Client to Use FIPS 140-2 Validated MACs: openssh.config

    Crypto Policies provide a centralized control over crypto algorithms usage of many packages. OpenSSH is supported by system crypto policy, but the ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure /dev/shm is configured

    The <code>/dev/shm</code> is a traditional shared memory concept. One program will create a memory portion, which other processes (if permitted) ca...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Ensure PAM Displays Last Logon/Access Notification

    To configure the system to notify users of last logon/access using <code>pam_lastlog</code>, add or correct the <code>pam_lastlog</code> settings i...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Lock Accounts After Failed Password Attempts

    This rule configures the system to lock out accounts after a number of incorrect login attempts using <code>pam_faillock.so</code>. pam_faillock.so...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Enforce Usage of pam_wheel with Group Parameter for su Authentication

    To ensure that only users who are members of the group set in the <code>group</code> option of <code>pam_wheel.so</code> module can run commands wi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Set Interactive Session Timeout

    Setting the <code>TMOUT</code> option in <code>/etc/profile</code> ensures that all user sessions will terminate based on inactivity. The value of ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure auditd Collects Information on Kernel Module Loading and Unloading

    To capture kernel module loading and unloading events, use following lines, setting ARCH to either b32 for 32-bit system, or having two lines for b...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Attempts to Alter Logon and Logout Events

    The audit system already collects login information for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenr...
    Group
  • Record Attempts to Alter Logon and Logout Events

    The audit system already collects login information for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenr...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Type of hostname to record the audit event

    Type of hostname to record the audit event
    Value
  • Set type of computer node name logging in audit logs

    To configure Audit daemon to use a unique identifier as computer node name in the audit events, set <code>name_format</code> to <code><xccdf-1.2:su...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Perform general configuration of Audit for OSPP

    Configure some basic <code>Audit</code> parameters specific for OSPP profile. In particular, configure <code>Audit</code> to watch for direct modif...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure Log Files Are Owned By Appropriate Group

    The group-owner of all log files written by <code>rsyslog</code> should be <code>root</code>. These log files are determined by the second part of ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure Firewalld to Restrict Loopback Traffic

    Configure <code>firewalld</code> to restrict loopback traffic to the <code>lo</code> interface. The loopback traffic must be trusted by assigning ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure Firewalld to Trust Loopback Traffic

    Assign loopback interface to the <code>firewalld</code> <code>trusted</code> zone in order to explicitly allow the loopback traffic in the system. ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Dectivate firewalld Rules

    Firewalls can be used to separate networks into different zones based on the level of trust the user has decided to place on the devices and traffi...
    Group
  • Network Manager

    The NetworkManager daemon configures a variety of network connections. This section discusses how to configure NetworkManager.
    Group
  • NetoworkManager DNS Mode

    This sets how NetworkManager handles DNS. none - NetworkManager will not modify resolv.conf. default - NetworkManager will update /etc/resolv.con...
    Value
  • Verify that All World-Writable Directories Have Sticky Bits Set

    When the so-called 'sticky bit' is set on a directory, only the owner of a given file may remove that file from the directory. Without the sticky b...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure All SGID Executables Are Authorized

    The SGID (set group id) bit should be set only on files that were installed via authorized means. A straightforward means of identifying unauthoriz...
    Rule Medium Severity

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