Skip to content

Guide to the Secure Configuration of Ubuntu 18.04

Rules, Groups, and Values defined within the XCCDF Benchmark

  • Integrity Scan Notification Email Address

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

    AIDE conducts integrity checks by comparing information about files with previously-gathered information. Ideally, the AIDE database is created imm...
    Group
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 stabili...
    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....
    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 secur...
    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 ba...
    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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 th...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Account for auditd to send email when actions occurs

    The setting for action_mail_acct in /etc/audit/auditd.conf
    Value
  • Action for auditd to take when disk space is low

    The setting for admin_space_left_action in /etc/audit/auditd.conf
    Value
  • The percentage remaining in disk space before prompting admin_space_left_action

    The setting for admin_space_left as a percentage in /etc/audit/auditd.conf
    Value
  • Account Inactivity Timeout (seconds)

    In an interactive shell, the value is interpreted as the number of seconds to wait for input after issuing the primary prompt. Bash terminates afte...
    Value
  • Interactive users initialization files

    'A regular expression describing a list of file names for files that are sourced at login time for interactive users'
    Value
  • Disk Partitioning

    To ensure separation and protection of data, there are top-level system directories which should be placed on their own physical partition or logic...
    Group
  • 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...
    Rule Low 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 usin...
    Rule Unknown Severity
  • Ensure /tmp Located On Separate Partition

    The <code>/tmp</code> directory is a world-writable directory used for temporary file storage. Ensure it has its own partition or logical volume at...
    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 i...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Ensure /var/log Located On Separate Partition

    System logs are stored in the <code>/var/log</code> directory. Ensure that <code>/var/log</code> has its own partition or logical volume at instal...
    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 volum...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Ensure /var/tmp Located On Separate Partition

    The <code>/var/tmp</code> directory is a world-writable directory used for temporary file storage. Ensure it has its own partition or logical volum...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • GNOME Desktop Environment

    GNOME is a graphical desktop environment bundled with many Linux distributions that allow users to easily interact with the operating system graphi...
    Group
  • 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 u...
    Group
  • 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....
    Rule High Severity
  • GNOME Media Settings

    GNOME media settings that apply to the graphical interface.
    Group
  • GNOME Network Settings

    GNOME network settings that apply to the graphical interface.
    Group
  • GNOME Remote Access Settings

    GNOME remote access settings that apply to the graphical interface.
    Group
  • Configure GNOME Screen Locking

    In the default GNOME3 desktop, the screen can be locked by selecting the user name in the far right corner of the main panel and selecting <b>Lock<...
    Group
  • 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
  • GNOME System Settings

    GNOME provides configuration and functionality to a graphical desktop environment that changes grahical configurations or allow a user to perform a...
    Group
  • SAP Specific Requirement

    SAP (Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing) is enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations. The follow...
    Group
  • Sudo

    <code>Sudo</code>, which stands for "su 'do'", provides the ability to delegate authority to certain users, groups of users, or system administrato...
    Group
  • Group name dedicated to the use of sudo

    Specify the name of the group that should own /usr/bin/sudo.
    Value
  • 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.
    Value

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.

Capacity
Modules