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Guide to the Secure Configuration of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

Rules, Groups, and Values defined within the XCCDF Benchmark

  • Configure Kernel to Rate Limit Sending of Duplicate TCP Acknowledgments

    Make sure that the system is configured to limit the maximal rate for sending duplicate acknowledgments in response to incoming TCP packets that ar...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Enable Kernel Parameter to Use TCP RFC 1337 on IPv4 Interfaces

    To set the runtime status of the <code>net.ipv4.tcp_rfc1337</code> kernel parameter, run the following command: <pre>$ sudo sysctl -w net.ipv4.tcp_...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Enable Kernel Parameter to Use TCP Syncookies on Network Interfaces

    To set the runtime status of the <code>net.ipv4.tcp_syncookies</code> kernel parameter, run the following command: <pre>$ sudo sysctl -w net.ipv4.t...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • 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
  • Disable Kernel Parameter for Sending ICMP Redirects on all IPv4 Interfaces

    To set the runtime status of the <code>net.ipv4.conf.all.send_redirects</code> kernel parameter, run the following command: <pre>$ sudo sysctl -w n...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable Kernel Parameter for Sending ICMP Redirects on all IPv4 Interfaces by Default

    To set the runtime status of the <code>net.ipv4.conf.default.send_redirects</code> kernel parameter, run the following command: <pre>$ sudo sysctl ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable Kernel Parameter for IP Forwarding on IPv4 Interfaces

    To set the runtime status of the <code>net.ipv4.ip_forward</code> kernel parameter, run the following command: <pre>$ sudo sysctl -w net.ipv4.ip_fo...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • nftables

    <code>If firewalld or iptables are being used in your environment, please follow the guidance in their respective section and pass-over the guidanc...
    Group
  • Nftables Base Chain Hooks

    The possible hooks which can be used to configure the base chain are: <code>ingress</code> (only in netdev family since Linux kernel 4.2, and inet ...
    Value
  • Nftables Chain Names

    The rules in nftables are attached to chains. Unlike in iptables, there are no predefined chains like INPUT, OUTPUT, etc. Instead, to filter pack...
    Value
  • Nftables Base Chain Policies

    This is the default verdict that will be applied to packets reaching the end of the chain (i.e, no more rules to be evaluated against). Currently ...
    Value
  • Nftables Base Chain Priorities

    Each nftables base chain is assigned a priority that defines its ordering among other base chains, flowtables, and Netfilter internal operations a...
    Value
  • Nftables Base Chain Types

    Base chains are those that are registered into the Netfilter hooks, i.e. these chains see packets flowing through the Linux TCP/IP stack. The poss...
    Value
  • Disable CAN Support

    The Controller Area Network (CAN) is a serial communications protocol which was initially developed for automotive and is now also used in marine, ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Nftables Families

    Netfilter enables filtering at multiple networking levels. With iptables there is a separate tool for each level: iptables, ip6tables, arptables, ...
    Value
  • Nftables Master configuration file

    The file which contains top level configuration for nftables service, and with which, the service is started.
    Value
  • Nftables Tables

    Tables in nftables hold chains. Each table only has one address family and only applies to packets of this family. Tables can have one of six fami...
    Value
  • Install nftables Package

    nftables provides a new in-kernel packet classification framework that is based on a network-specific Virtual Machine (VM) and a new nft userspace ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify nftables Service is Enabled

    The nftables service allows for the loading of nftables rulesets during boot, or starting on the nftables service The <code>nftables</code> servic...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify nftables Service is Disabled

    nftables is a subsystem of the Linux kernel providing filtering and classification of network packets/datagrams/frames and is the successor to ipta...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure a Table Exists for Nftables

    Tables in nftables hold chains. Each table only has one address family and only applies to packets of this family. Tables can have one of six famil...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • SuSEfirewall2

    The SuSEfirewall2 provides a managed firewall.
    Group
  • Uncomplicated Firewall (ufw)

    The Linux kernel in Ubuntu provides a packet filtering system called netfilter, and the traditional interface for manipulating netfilter are the ip...
    Group
  • Verify ufw Enabled

    The ufw service can be enabled with the following command:
    $ sudo systemctl enable ufw.service
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Uncommon Network Protocols

    The system includes support for several network protocols which are not commonly used. Although security vulnerabilities in kernel networking code ...
    Group
  • Disable ATM Support

    The Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is a protocol operating on network, data link, and physical layers, based on virtual circuits and virtual path...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable DCCP Support

    The Datagram Congestion Control Protocol (DCCP) is a relatively new transport layer protocol, designed to support streaming media and telephony. T...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable IEEE 1394 (FireWire) Support

    The IEEE 1394 (FireWire) is a serial bus standard for high-speed real-time communication. To configure the system to prevent the <code>firewire-co...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Disable RDS Support

    The Reliable Datagram Sockets (RDS) protocol is a transport layer protocol designed to provide reliable high-bandwidth, low-latency communications ...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Disable SCTP Support

    The Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) is a transport layer protocol, designed to support the idea of message-oriented communication, with...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable TIPC Support

    The Transparent Inter-Process Communication (TIPC) protocol is designed to provide communications between nodes in a cluster. To configure the sys...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Wireless Networking

    Wireless networking, such as 802.11 (WiFi) and Bluetooth, can present a security risk to sensitive or classified systems and networks. Wireless net...
    Group
  • Disable Wireless Through Software Configuration

    If it is impossible to remove the wireless hardware from the device in question, disable as much of it as possible through software. The following ...
    Group
  • Disable Bluetooth Service

    The <code>bluetooth</code> service can be disabled with the following command: <pre>$ sudo systemctl mask --now bluetooth.service</pre> <pre>$ sud...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable Bluetooth Kernel Module

    The kernel's module loading system can be configured to prevent loading of the Bluetooth module. Add the following to the appropriate <code>/etc/mo...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable Kernel cfg80211 Module

    To configure the system to prevent the <code>cfg80211</code> kernel module from being loaded, add the following line to the file <code>/etc/modpro...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable Kernel iwlmvm Module

    To configure the system to prevent the <code>iwlmvm</code> kernel module from being loaded, add the following line to the file <code>/etc/modprobe...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable Kernel iwlwifi Module

    To configure the system to prevent the <code>iwlwifi</code> kernel module from being loaded, add the following line to the file <code>/etc/modprob...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable Kernel mac80211 Module

    To configure the system to prevent the <code>mac80211</code> kernel module from being loaded, add the following line to the file <code>/etc/modpro...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable WiFi or Bluetooth in BIOS

    Some machines that include built-in wireless support offer the ability to disable the device through the BIOS. This is hardware-specific; consult y...
    Rule Unknown Severity
  • Deactivate Wireless Network Interfaces

    Deactivating wireless network interfaces should prevent normal usage of the wireless capability. <br><br> Configure the system to disable all wire...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Disable Unused Interfaces

    Network interfaces expand the attack surface of the system. Unused interfaces are not monitored or controlled, and should be disabled. <br><br> If...
    Group
  • Transport Layer Security Support

    Support for Transport Layer Security (TLS), and its predecessor, the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), is included in Red Hat Enterprise Linux in the Ope...
    Group
  • File Permissions and Masks

    Traditional Unix security relies heavily on file and directory permissions to prevent unauthorized users from reading or modifying files to which t...
    Group
  • Verify Permissions on Important Files and Directories

    Permissions for many files on a system must be set restrictively to ensure sensitive information is properly protected. This section discusses impo...
    Group
  • Ensure All World-Writable Directories Are Owned by root User

    All directories in local partitions which are world-writable should be owned by root. If any world-writable directories are not owned by root, this...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure All World-Writable Directories Are Owned by a System Account

    All directories in local partitions which are world-writable should be owned by root or another system account. If any world-writable directories a...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure All World-Writable Directories Are Group Owned by a System Account

    All directories in local partitions which are world-writable should be group owned by root or another system account. If any world-writable directo...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on /etc/audit/auditd.conf

    To properly set the permissions of /etc/audit/auditd.conf, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0640 /etc/audit/auditd.conf
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on /etc/audit/rules.d/*.rules

    To properly set the permissions of /etc/audit/rules.d/*.rules, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0640 /etc/audit/rules.d/*.rules
    Rule Medium Severity

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