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Guide to the Secure Configuration of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

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
  • 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
  • UEFI GRUB2 bootloader configuration

    UEFI GRUB2 bootloader configuration
    Group
  • 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
  • Ensure PAM Displays Last Logon/Access Notification

    To configure the system to notify users of last logon/access using <code>pam_lastlog</code>, add or correct the <code>pam_lastlog</code> settings in <code>/etc/pam.d/postlogin</code> to include <co...
    Rule Low Severity
  • Set Up a Private Namespace in PAM Configuration

    To setup a private namespace add the following line to /etc/pam.d/login:
    session    required     pam_namespace.so
    Rule Low Severity
  • 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...
    Group
  • fail_deny

    Number of failed login attempts before account lockout
    Value
  • faillock directory

    The directory where the user files with the failure records are kept
    Value
  • fail_interval

    Interval for counting failed login attempts before account lockout
    Value
  • Set the GNOME3 Login Warning Banner Text

    In the default graphical environment, configuring the login warning banner text in the GNOME Display Manager's login screen can be configured on the login screen by setting <code>banner-message-tex...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • 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
  • 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 units such as H or M for hours or minutes. Note tha...
    Value
  • 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
  • Install AIDE

    The aide package can be installed with the following command:
    $ sudo yum install aide
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Build and Test AIDE Database

    Run the following command to generate a new database: <pre>$ sudo /usr/sbin/aide --init</pre> By default, the database will be written to the file <code>/var/lib/aide/aide.db.new.gz</code>. Sto...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • The system-provided crypto policies

    Specify the crypto policy for the system.
    Value
  • 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
  • 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 Notification of Post-AIDE Scan Details

    AIDE should notify appropriate personnel of the details of a scan after the scan has been run. If AIDE has already been configured for periodic execution in <code>/etc/crontab</code>, append the fo...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure AIDE to Use FIPS 140-2 for Validating Hashes

    By default, the <code>sha512</code> option is added to the <code>NORMAL</code> ruleset in AIDE. If using a custom ruleset or the <code>sha512</code> option is missing, add <code>sha512</code> to th...
    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
  • 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, the session key is renegotiated. The number is f...
    Value
  • conman_can_network SELinux Boolean

    default - Default SELinux boolean setting.
    on - SELinux boolean is enabled.
    off - SELinux boolean is disabled.
    Value
  • Audit Tools Must Be Group-owned by Root

    Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 systems providing tools to interface with audit information will leverage user permissions and roles identifying the user accessing the tools, and the corresponding right...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Audit Tools Must Be Owned by Root

    Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 systems providing tools to interface with audit information will leverage user permissions and roles identifying the user accessing the tools, and the corresponding right...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Audit Tools Must Have a Mode of 0755 or Less Permissive

    Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 systems providing tools to interface with audit information will leverage user permissions and roles identifying the user accessing the tools, and the corresponding right...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Enable Dracut FIPS Module

    To enable FIPS mode, run the following command: <pre>fips-mode-setup --enable</pre> To enable FIPS, the system requires that the <code>fips</code> module is added in <code>dracut</code> configurati...
    Rule High Severity
  • Enable FIPS Mode

    To enable FIPS mode, run the following command: <pre>fips-mode-setup --enable</pre> <br> The <code>fips-mode-setup</code> command will configure the system in FIPS mode by automa...
    Rule High Severity
  • Ensure '/etc/system-fips' exists

    On a system where FIPS mode is enabled, /etc/system-fips must exist. To enable FIPS mode, run the following command:
    fips-mode-setup --enable
    Rule High Severity
  • Set kernel parameter 'crypto.fips_enabled' to 1

    System running in FIPS mode is indicated by kernel parameter <code>'crypto.fips_enabled'</code>. This parameter should be set to <code>1</code> in FIPS mode. To enable FIPS mode, run the following ...
    Rule High Severity
  • Configure System Cryptography Policy

    To configure the system cryptography policy to use ciphers only from the <code><xccdf-1.2:sub idref="xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_value_var_system_crypto_policy" use="legacy"></xccdf-1.2:sub></code...
    Rule High Severity
  • Configure GnuTLS library to use DoD-approved TLS Encryption

    Crypto Policies provide a centralized control over crypto algorithms usage of many packages. GnuTLS is supported by system crypto policy, but the GnuTLS configuration may be set up to ignore it. T...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure Kerberos to use System Crypto Policy

    Crypto Policies provide a centralized control over crypto algorithms usage of many packages. Kerberos is supported by crypto policy, but it's configuration may be set up to ignore it. To check that...
    Rule High Severity
  • Configure Libreswan to use System Crypto Policy

    Crypto Policies provide a centralized control over crypto algorithms usage of many packages. Libreswan is supported by system crypto policy, but the Libreswan configuration may be set up to ignore ...
    Rule High Severity
  • Configure OpenSSL library to use System Crypto Policy

    Crypto Policies provide a centralized control over crypto algorithms usage of many packages. OpenSSL is supported by crypto policy, but the OpenSSL configuration may be set up to ignore it. To chec...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Configure OpenSSL library to use TLS Encryption

    Crypto Policies are means of enforcing certain cryptographic settings for selected applications including OpenSSL. OpenSSL is by default configured to modify its configuration based on currently co...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • 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 OpenSSL Crypto Policy

    Crypto Policies are means of enforcing certain cryptographic settings for selected applications including OpenSSL. OpenSSL is by default configured to modify its configuration based on currently co...
    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
  • Configure SSH Server to Use FIPS 140-2 Validated Ciphers: opensshserver.config

    Crypto Policies provide a centralized control over crypto algorithms usage of many packages. OpenSSH is supported by system crypto policy, but the OpenSSH configuration may be set up incorrectly. ...
    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

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