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Guide to the Secure Configuration of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

Rules, Groups, and Values defined within the XCCDF Benchmark

  • System Settings

    Contains rules that check correct system settings.
    Group
  • Installing and Maintaining Software

    The following sections contain information on security-relevant choices during the initial operating system installation process and the setup of s...
    Group
  • Prefer to use a 64-bit Operating System when supported

    Prefer installation of 64-bit operating systems when the CPU supports it.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • System and Software Integrity

    System and software integrity can be gained by installing antivirus, increasing system encryption strength with FIPS, verifying installed software,...
    Group
  • Software Integrity Checking

    Both the AIDE (Advanced Intrusion Detection Environment) software and the RPM package management system provide mechanisms for verifying the integr...
    Group
  • Integrity Scan Notification Email Address

    Specify the email address for designated personnel if baseline configurations are changed in an unauthorized manner.
    Value
  • Verify Integrity with RPM

    The RPM package management system includes the ability to verify the integrity of installed packages by comparing the installed files with informat...
    Group
  • 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
  • pwhistory_remember

    Prevent password re-use using password history lookup
    Value
  • net.ipv4.tcp_syncookies

    Enable to turn on TCP SYN Cookie Protection
    Value
  • Verify Integrity with AIDE

    AIDE conducts integrity checks by comparing information about files with previously-gathered information. Ideally, the AIDE database is created imm...
    Group
  • Install AIDE

    The aide package can be installed with the following command:
    $ sudo dnf install aide
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Build and Test AIDE Database

    Run the following command to generate a new database: <pre>$ sudo /usr/sbin/aide --init</pre> By default, the database will be written to the fil...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure AIDE to Verify the Audit Tools

    The operating system file integrity tool must be configured to protect the integrity of the audit tools.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure Periodic Execution of AIDE

    At a minimum, AIDE should be configured to run a weekly scan. To implement a daily execution of AIDE at 4:05am using cron, add the following line t...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure Notification of Post-AIDE Scan Details

    AIDE should notify appropriate personnel of the details of a scan after the scan has been run. If AIDE has already been configured for periodic exe...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure AIDE to Use FIPS 140-2 for Validating Hashes

    By default, the <code>sha512</code> option is added to the <code>NORMAL</code> ruleset in AIDE. If using a custom ruleset or the <code>sha512</code...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure AIDE to Verify Access Control Lists (ACLs)

    By default, the <code>acl</code> option is added to the <code>FIPSR</code> ruleset in AIDE. If using a custom ruleset or the <code>acl</code> optio...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Configure AIDE to Verify Extended Attributes

    By default, the <code>xattrs</code> option is added to the <code>FIPSR</code> ruleset in AIDE. If using a custom ruleset or the <code>xattrs</code>...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Audit Tools Must Be Group-owned by Root

    Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 systems providing tools to interface with audit information will leverage user permissions and roles identifying the use...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Audit Tools Must Be Owned by Root

    Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 systems providing tools to interface with audit information will leverage user permissions and roles identifying the use...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Audit Tools Must Have a Mode of 0755 or Less Permissive

    Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 systems providing tools to interface with audit information will leverage user permissions and roles identifying the use...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)

    The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) is a computer security standard which is developed by the U.S. Government and industry working g...
    Group
  • Enable Dracut FIPS Module

    To enable FIPS mode, run the following command: <pre>fips-mode-setup --enable</pre> To enable FIPS, the system requires that the <code>fips</code> ...
    Rule High Severity
  • Enable FIPS Mode

    To enable FIPS mode, run the following command: <pre>fips-mode-setup --enable</pre> <br> The <code>fips-mode-setup</code> command will configure t...
    Rule High Severity
  • Ensure '/etc/system-fips' exists

    On a system where FIPS mode is enabled, <code>/etc/system-fips</code> must exist. To enable FIPS mode, run the following command: <pre>fips-mode-se...
    Rule High Severity
  • Set kernel parameter 'crypto.fips_enabled' to 1

    System running in FIPS mode is indicated by kernel parameter <code>'crypto.fips_enabled'</code>. This parameter should be set to <code>1</code> in ...
    Rule High Severity
  • System Cryptographic Policies

    Linux has the capability to centrally configure cryptographic polices. The command <code>update-crypto-policies</code> is used to set the policy ap...
    Group
  • SSH client RekeyLimit - size

    Specify the size component of the rekey limit. This limit signifies amount of data. After this amount of data is transferred through the connection...
    Value
  • SSH client RekeyLimit - time

    Specify the time component of the rekey limit. The session key is renegotiated after the defined amount of time passes. The number is followed by u...
    Value
  • The system-provided crypto policies

    Specify the crypto policy for the system.
    Value
  • Install crypto-policies package

    The crypto-policies package can be installed with the following command:
    $ sudo dnf install crypto-policies
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure BIND to use System Crypto Policy

    Crypto Policies provide a centralized control over crypto algorithms usage of many packages. BIND is supported by crypto policy, but the BIND confi...
    Rule High Severity
  • Configure System Cryptography Policy

    To configure the system cryptography policy to use ciphers only from the <code><xccdf-1.2:sub idref="xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_value_var_system_...
    Rule High Severity
  • domain_kernel_load_modules SELinux Boolean

    default - Default SELinux boolean setting.
    on - SELinux boolean is enabled.
    off - SELinux boolean is disabled.
    Value
  • entropyd_use_audio SELinux Boolean

    default - Default SELinux boolean setting.
    on - SELinux boolean is enabled.
    off - SELinux boolean is disabled.
    Value
  • Network Parameters for Hosts Only

    If the system is not going to be used as a router, then setting certain kernel parameters ensure that the host will not perform routing of network ...
    Group
  • 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
  • Memory Poisoning

    Memory Poisoning consists of writing a special value to uninitialized or freed memory. Poisoning can be used as a mechanism to prevent leak of info...
    Group
  • Configure GnuTLS library to use DoD-approved TLS Encryption

    Crypto Policies provide a centralized control over crypto algorithms usage of many packages. GnuTLS is supported by system crypto policy, but the G...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Install sudo Package

    The sudo package can be installed with the following command:
    $ sudo dnf install sudo
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure Kerberos to use System Crypto Policy

    Crypto Policies provide a centralized control over crypto algorithms usage of many packages. Kerberos is supported by crypto policy, but it's confi...
    Rule High Severity
  • Configure Libreswan to use System Crypto Policy

    Crypto Policies provide a centralized control over crypto algorithms usage of many packages. Libreswan is supported by system crypto policy, but th...
    Rule High Severity
  • Configure OpenSSL library to use System Crypto Policy

    Crypto Policies provide a centralized control over crypto algorithms usage of many packages. OpenSSL is supported by crypto policy, but the OpenSSL...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure OpenSSL library to use TLS Encryption

    Crypto Policies are means of enforcing certain cryptographic settings for selected applications including OpenSSL. OpenSSL is by default configured...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure SSH to use System Crypto Policy

    Crypto Policies provide a centralized control over crypto algorithms usage of many packages. SSH is supported by crypto policy, but the SSH configu...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Harden SSH client Crypto Policy

    Crypto Policies are means of enforcing certain cryptographic settings for selected applications including OpenSSH client. To override the system wi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure SSH Client to Use FIPS 140-2 Validated Ciphers: 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 High Severity
  • PAM pwhistory remember - control flag

    'Specify the control flag required for password remember requirement. If multiple values are allowed write them separated by commas as in "required...
    Value
  • Configure SSH Server to Use FIPS 140-2 Validated Ciphers: opensshserver.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

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