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Guide to the Secure Configuration of Ubuntu 16.04

Rules, Groups, and Values defined within the XCCDF Benchmark

  • System Settings

    Contains rules that check correct system settings.
    Group
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  • 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.
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  • 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
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  • 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...
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  • 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, ...
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  • 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
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  • 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...
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  • 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. Ubuntu Linux is supported by Canonical Ltd. As t...
    Rule High Severity
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  • 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
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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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  • 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
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  • Endpoint Protection Software

    Endpoint protection security software that is not provided or supported by Canonical can be installed to provide complementary or duplicative security capabilities to those provided by the base p...
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  • Verify that System Executable Directories Have Restrictive Permissions

    System executables are stored in the following directories by default: <pre>/bin /sbin /usr/bin /usr/sbin /usr/local/bin /usr/local/sbin</pre> These directories should not be group-writable or worl...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • warning days before password expires

    The number of days' warning given before a password expires.
    Value
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  • Maximum login attempts delay

    Maximum time in seconds between fail login attempts before re-prompting.
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  • Maximum concurrent login sessions

    Maximum number of concurrent sessions by a user
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  • Sudo - logfile value

    Specify the sudo logfile to use. The default value used here matches the example location from CIS, which uses /var/log/sudo.log.
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  • 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
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  • 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
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  • 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
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  • 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
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  • 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
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  • 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
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  • 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
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  • Don't define allowed commands in sudoers by means of exclusion

    Policies applied by sudo through the sudoers file should not involve negation. Each user specification in the <code>sudoers</code> file contains a comma-delimited list of command specifications. T...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • Ensure Privileged Escalated Commands Cannot Execute Other Commands - sudo NOEXEC

    The sudo <code>NOEXEC</code> tag, when specified, prevents user executed commands from executing other commands, like a shell for example. This should be enabled by making sure that the <code>NOEXE...
    Rule High Severity
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  • Ensure Only Users Logged In To Real tty Can Execute Sudo - sudo requiretty

    The sudo <code>requiretty</code> tag, when specified, will only execute sudo commands from users logged in to a real tty. This should be enabled by making sure that the <code>requiretty</code> tag ...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • Ensure Only Users Logged In To Real tty Can Execute Sudo - sudo use_pty

    The sudo <code>use_pty</code> tag, when specified, will only execute sudo commands from users logged in to a real tty. This should be enabled by making sure that the <code>use_pty</code> tag exists...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • Ensure Sudo Logfile Exists - sudo logfile

    A custom log sudo file can be configured with the 'logfile' tag. This rule configures a sudo custom logfile at the default location suggested by CIS, which uses /var/log/sudo.log.
    Rule Low Severity
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  • Ensure Users Re-Authenticate for Privilege Escalation - sudo NOPASSWD

    The sudo <code>NOPASSWD</code> tag, when specified, allows a user to execute commands using sudo without having to authenticate. This should be disabled by making sure that the <code>NOPASSWD</code...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • Only the VDSM User Can Use sudo NOPASSWD

    The sudo <code>NOPASSWD</code> tag, when specified, allows a user to execute commands using sudo without having to authenticate. Only the <code>vdsm</code> user should have this capability in any s...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • Action for auditd to take when disk space is low

    The setting for admin_space_left_action in /etc/audit/auditd.conf
    Value
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  • Don't target root user in the sudoers file

    The targeted users of a user specification should be, as much as possible, non privileged users (i.e.: non-root). User specifications have to explicitly list the runas spec (i.e. the list of targe...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • System Tooling / Utilities

    The following checks evaluate the system for recommended base packages -- both for installation and removal.
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  • Ensure nss-tools is installed

    The nss-tools package can be installed with the following command: 
    $ apt-get install nss-tools
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • Ensure Software Patches Installed

    If the system has an apt repository available, run the following command to install updates: <pre>$ apt update &amp;&amp; apt full-upgrade</pre> <br> <br> NOTE: U.S. Defense system...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • Account and Access Control

    In traditional Unix security, if an attacker gains shell access to a certain login account, they can perform any action or access any file to which that account has access. Therefore, making it mor...
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  • Account Lockouts Must Persist

    By setting a `dir` in the faillock configuration account lockouts will persist across reboots.
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • Disallow Configuration to Bypass Password Requirements for Privilege Escalation

    Verify the operating system is not configured to bypass password requirements for privilege escalation. Check the configuration of the "/etc/pam.d/sudo" file with the following command: <pre>$ sudo...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • Set Lockouts for Failed Password Attempts

    The <code>pam_faillock</code> PAM module provides the capability to lock out user accounts after a number of failed login attempts. Its documentation is available in <code>/usr/share/doc/pam-VERSIO...
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  • Account Lockouts Must Be Logged

    PAM faillock locks an account due to excessive password failures, this event must be logged.
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • Account Lockouts Must Be Logged

    PAM faillock locks an account due to excessive password failures, this event must be logged.
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • Protect Accounts by Restricting Password-Based Login

    Conventionally, Unix shell accounts are accessed by providing a username and password to a login program, which tests these values for correctness using the <code>/etc/passwd</code> and <code>/etc/...
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  • Ensure All Accounts on the System Have Unique Names

    Ensure accounts on the system have unique names. To ensure all accounts have unique names, run the following command: <pre>$ sudo getent passwd | awk -F: '{ print $1}' | uniq -d</pre> If a usernam...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • Use Centralized and Automated Authentication

    Implement an automated system for managing user accounts that minimizes the risk of errors, either intentional or deliberate. This system should integrate with an existing enterprise user managemen...
    Rule Medium Severity
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  • maximum password age

    Maximum age of password in days
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  • minimum password age

    Minimum age of password in days
    Value
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  • minimum password length

    Minimum number of characters in password
    Value
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  • Set Password Minimum Age

    To specify password minimum age for new accounts, edit the file <code>/etc/login.defs</code> and add or correct the following line: <pre>PASS_MIN_DAYS <xccdf-1.2:sub idref="xccdf_org.ssgproject.con...
    Rule Medium Severity
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