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Guide to the Secure Configuration of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

Rules, Groups, and Values defined within the XCCDF Benchmark

  • Prevent user from disabling the screen lock

    The tmux terminal multiplexer is used to implement automatic session locking. It should not be listed in /etc/shells.
    Rule Low Severity
  • Hardware Tokens for Authentication

    The use of hardware tokens such as smart cards for system login provides stronger, two-factor authentication than using a username and password. In Red Hat Enterprise Linux servers and workstation...
    Group
  • OpenSC Smart Card Drivers

    Choose the Smart Card Driver in use by your organization. <br>For DoD, choose the <code>cac</code> driver. <br>If your driver is not listed and you don't want to use the <code>default</code> driver...
    Value
  • Install the pcsc-lite package

    The pcsc-lite package can be installed with the following command:
    $ sudo yum install pcsc-lite
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Install Smart Card Packages For Multifactor Authentication

    Configure the operating system to implement multifactor authentication by installing the required package with the following command: The <code>openssl-pkcs11</code> package can be installed with ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Enable the pcscd Service

    The pcscd service can be enabled with the following command:
    $ sudo systemctl enable pcscd.service
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Force opensc To Use Defined Smart Card Driver

    The OpenSC smart card middleware can auto-detect smart card drivers; however by forcing the smart card driver in use by your organization, opensc will no longer autodetect or use other drivers unle...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • 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/...
    Group
  • Accounts Authorized Local Users on the Operating System

    List the user accounts that are authorized locally on the operating system. This list includes both users requried by the operating system and by the installed applications. Depending on the Operat...
    Value
  • Ensure All Accounts on the System Have Unique User IDs

    Change user IDs (UIDs), or delete accounts, so each has a unique name.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Only Authorized Local User Accounts Exist on Operating System

    Enterprise Application tends to use the server or virtual machine exclusively. Besides the default operating system user, there should be only authorized local users required by the installed softw...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure All Groups on the System Have Unique Group ID

    Change the group name or delete groups, so each has a unique id.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure All Groups on the System Have Unique Group Names

    Change the group name or delete groups, so each has a unique name.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • number of days after a password expires until the account is permanently disabled

    The number of days to wait after a password expires, until the account will be permanently disabled.
    Value
  • Assign Expiration Date to Emergency Accounts

    Emergency accounts are privileged accounts established in response to crisis situations where the need for rapid account activation is required. In the event emergency accounts are required, config...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Assign Expiration Date to Temporary Accounts

    Temporary accounts are established as part of normal account activation procedures when there is a need for short-term accounts. In the event temporary accounts are required, configure the system t...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • 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
  • 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
  • maximum password age

    Maximum age of password in days
    Value
  • minimum password age

    Minimum age of password in days
    Value
  • minimum password length

    Minimum number of characters in password
    Value
  • warning days before password expires

    The number of days' warning given before a password expires.
    Value
  • Set Password Maximum Age

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

    To specify password length requirements for new accounts, edit the file <code>/etc/login.defs</code> and add or correct the following line: <pre>PASS_MIN_LEN <xccdf-1.2:sub idref="xccdf_org.ssgproj...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Set Existing Passwords Maximum Age

    Configure non-compliant accounts to enforce a <xccdf-1.2:sub idref="xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_value_var_accounts_maximum_age_login_defs" use="legacy"></xccdf-1.2:sub>-day maximum password lifeti...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Set Password Warning Age

    To specify how many days prior to password expiration that a warning will be issued to users, edit the file <code>/etc/login.defs</code> and add or correct the following line: <pre>PASS_WARN_AGE <...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Proper Storage and Existence of Password Hashes

    By default, password hashes for local accounts are stored in the second field (colon-separated) in <code>/etc/shadow</code>. This file should be readable only by processes running with root credent...
    Group
  • Password Hashing algorithm

    Specify the number of rounds for the system password encryption algorithm. Defines the value set in /etc/pam.d/system-auth and /etc/pam.d/password-auth
    Value
  • Verify All Account Password Hashes are Shadowed

    If any password hashes are stored in <code>/etc/passwd</code> (in the second field, instead of an <code>x</code> or <code>*</code>), the cause of this misconfiguration should be investigated. The a...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify All Account Password Hashes are Shadowed with SHA512

    Verify the operating system requires the shadow password suite configuration be set to encrypt interactive user passwords using a strong cryptographic hash. Check that the interactive user account ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure all users last password change date is in the past

    All users should have a password change date in the past.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Set number of Password Hashing Rounds - system-auth

    Configure the number or rounds for the password hashing algorithm. This can be accomplished by using the <code>rounds</code> option for the <code>pam_unix</code> PAM module. <br> ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding

    Toggle IPv6 Forwarding
    Value
  • All GIDs referenced in /etc/passwd must be defined in /etc/group

    Add a group to the system for each GID referenced without a corresponding group.
    Rule Low Severity
  • Prevent Login to Accounts With Empty Password

    If an account is configured for password authentication but does not have an assigned password, it may be possible to log into the account without authentication. Remove any instances of the <code>...
    Rule High Severity
  • Verify No .forward Files Exist

    The .forward file specifies an email address to forward the user's mail to.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure there are no legacy + NIS entries in /etc/group

    The + character in /etc/group file marks a place where entries from a network information service (NIS) should be directly inserted.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure there are no legacy + NIS entries in /etc/passwd

    The + character in /etc/passwd file marks a place where entries from a network information service (NIS) should be directly inserted.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure there are no legacy + NIS entries in /etc/shadow

    The + character in /etc/shadow file marks a place where entries from a network information service (NIS) should be directly inserted.
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify No netrc Files Exist

    The <code>.netrc</code> files contain login information used to auto-login into FTP servers and reside in the user's home directory. These files may contain unencrypted passwords to remote FTP serv...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Restrict Root Logins

    Direct root logins should be allowed only for emergency use. In normal situations, the administrator should access the system via a unique unprivileged account, and then use <code>su</code> or <cod...
    Group
  • Group Name Used by pam_wheel Group Parameter

    pam_wheel module has a parameter called group, which controls which groups can access the su command. This variable holds the valid value for the parameter.
    Value
  • Verify Only Root Has UID 0

    If any account other than root has a UID of 0, this misconfiguration should be investigated and the accounts other than root should be removed or have their UID changed. <br> If the account is asso...
    Rule High Severity
  • Verify Root Has A Primary GID 0

    The root user should have a primary group of 0.
    Rule High Severity
  • System Accounting with auditd

    The <code>auditd</code> program can perform comprehensive monitoring of system activity. This section makes use of recommended configuration settings for specific policies or use cases. The rules i...
    Group
  • net.ipv6.conf.all.max_addresses

    Maximum number of autoconfigured IPv6 addresses
    Value
  • Ensure that System Accounts Are Locked

    Some accounts are not associated with a human user of the system, and exist to perform some administrative functions. An attacker should not be able to log into these accounts. <br> ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Restrict Web Browser Use for Administrative Accounts

    Enforce policy requiring administrative accounts use web browsers only for local service administration.
    Rule Unknown Severity
  • Ensure that System Accounts Do Not Run a Shell Upon Login

    Some accounts are not associated with a human user of the system, and exist to perform some administrative functions. Should an attacker be able to log into these accounts, they should not be grant...
    Rule Medium Severity

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