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Guide to the Secure Configuration of SUSE Linux Enterprise 15

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 software updates.
    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, enabling SELinux, installing an Intrusion Prevent...
    Group
  • net.ipv6.conf.all.accept_ra_defrtr

    Accept default router in router advertisements?
    Value
  • net.ipv6.conf.all.accept_ra_pinfo

    Accept prefix information in router advertisements?
    Value
  • net.ipv6.conf.all.accept_ra_rtr_pref

    Accept router preference in router advertisements?
    Value
  • net.ipv6.conf.all.accept_ra

    Accept all router advertisements?
    Value
  • net.ipv6.conf.all.accept_redirects

    Toggle ICMP Redirect Acceptance
    Value
  • net.ipv6.conf.default.accept_ra

    Accept default router advertisements by default?
    Value
  • net.ipv6.conf.default.accept_redirects

    Toggle ICMP Redirect Acceptance By Default
    Value
  • net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_source_route

    Disable IP source routing?
    Value
  • SSH Max authentication attempts

    Specify the maximum number of authentication attempts per connection.
    Value
  • 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
  • Ensure /usr Located On Separate Partition

    It is recommended that the /usr directory resides on a separate partition.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • 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 information about the files taken from the package metadat...
    Group
  • 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 security. Verify that the file permissions of system ...
    Rule High Severity
  • Verify Integrity with AIDE

    AIDE conducts integrity checks by comparing information about files with previously-gathered information. Ideally, the AIDE database is created immediately after initial system configuration, and t...
    Group
  • Build and Test AIDE Database

    Run the following command to generate a new database: <pre>$ sudo /usr/bin/aide --init</pre> By default, the database will be written to the file <code>/var/lib/aide/aide.db.new</code>. Storing...
    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 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> option is missing, add <code>acl</code> to the appropri...
    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> option is missing, add <code>xattrs</code> to the...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Verify '/proc/sys/crypto/fips_enabled' exists

    On a system where FIPS 140-2 mode is enabled, <code>/proc/sys/crypto/fips_enabled</code> must exist. To verify FIPS mode, run the following command: <pre>cat /proc/sys/crypto/fips_enabled</pre> ...
    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 applicable for the various cryptographic back-ends, ...
    Group
  • The system-provided crypto policies

    Specify the crypto policy for the system.
    Value
  • 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 configuration may be set up to ignore it. To check that C...
    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 wide crypto policy for Openssh client, place a file ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Harden SSHD Crypto Policy

    Crypto Policies are means of enforcing certain cryptographic settings for selected applications including OpenSSH server. The SSHD service is by default configured to modify its configuration based...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Operating System Vendor Support and Certification

    The assurance of a vendor to provide operating system support and maintenance for their product is an important criterion to ensure product stability and security over the life of the product. A ce...
    Group
  • 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. SUSE Enterprise Linux is supported by SUSE Softw...
    Rule High Severity
  • The Installed Operating System Is Vendor Supported

    The installed operating system must be maintained by a vendor. SUSE Linux Enterprise is supported by SUSE. As the SUSE Linux Enterprise vendor, SUSE is responsible for providing security patches.
    Rule High Severity
  • Endpoint Protection Software

    Endpoint protection security software that is not provided or supported by Red Hat can be installed to provide complementary or duplicative security capabilities to those provided by the base pla...
    Group
  • 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
  • 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
  • Encrypt Partitions

    SUSE Linux Enterprise 15 natively supports partition encryption through the Linux Unified Key Setup-on-disk-format (LUKS) technology. The easiest way to encrypt a partition is during installation t...
    Rule High 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 /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
  • Disable the GNOME3 Login User List

    In the default graphical environment, users logging directly into the system are greeted with a login screen that displays all known users. This functionality should be disabled by setting <code>di...
    Rule Medium 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 Remote Access Settings

    GNOME remote access settings that apply to the graphical interface.
    Group

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