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Guide to the Secure Configuration of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

Rules, Groups, and Values defined within the XCCDF Benchmark

  • 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
  • Verify User Who Owns group File

    To properly set the owner of /etc/group, run the command:
    $ sudo chown root /etc/group 
    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
  • 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
  • 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 that local System.map file (if exists) is readable only by root

    Files containing sensitive informations should be protected by restrictive permissions. Most of the time, there is no need that these files need ...
    Rule Unknown Severity
  • Ensure All SUID Executables Are Authorized

    The SUID (set user id) bit should be set only on files that were installed via authorized means. A straightforward means of identifying unauthorize...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure No World-Writable Files Exist

    It is generally a good idea to remove global (other) write access to a file when it is discovered. However, check with documentation for specific a...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure All Files Are Owned by a User

    If any files are not owned by a user, then the cause of their lack of ownership should be investigated. Following this, the files should be deleted...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Enable Kernel Parameter to Enforce DAC on FIFOs

    To set the runtime status of the <code>fs.protected_fifos</code> kernel parameter, run the following command: <pre>$ sudo sysctl -w fs.protected_fi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Enable Kernel Parameter to Enforce DAC on Hardlinks

    To set the runtime status of the <code>fs.protected_hardlinks</code> kernel parameter, run the following command: <pre>$ sudo sysctl -w fs.protecte...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify User Who Owns Backup passwd File

    To properly set the owner of /etc/passwd-, run the command:
    $ sudo chown root /etc/passwd- 
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Enable Kernel Parameter to Enforce DAC on Regular files

    To set the runtime status of the <code>fs.protected_regular</code> kernel parameter, run the following command: <pre>$ sudo sysctl -w fs.protected_...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Enable Kernel Parameter to Enforce DAC on Symlinks

    To set the runtime status of the <code>fs.protected_symlinks</code> kernel parameter, run the following command: <pre>$ sudo sysctl -w fs.protected...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on Files with Local Account Information and Credentials

    The default restrictive permissions for files which act as important security databases such as <code>passwd</code>, <code>shadow</code>, <code>gro...
    Group
  • Verify Group Who Owns Backup group File

    To properly set the group owner of /etc/group-, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /etc/group-
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Who Owns Backup gshadow File

    To properly set the group owner of /etc/gshadow-, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /etc/gshadow-
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Who Owns Backup passwd File

    To properly set the group owner of /etc/passwd-, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /etc/passwd-
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify User Who Owns Backup shadow File

    To properly set the group owner of /etc/shadow-, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /etc/shadow-
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Who Owns group File

    To properly set the group owner of /etc/group, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /etc/group
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Who Owns gshadow File

    To properly set the group owner of /etc/gshadow, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /etc/gshadow
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Who Owns passwd File

    To properly set the group owner of /etc/passwd, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /etc/passwd
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Who Owns shadow File

    To properly set the group owner of /etc/shadow, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /etc/shadow
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify User Who Owns Backup group File

    To properly set the owner of /etc/group-, run the command:
    $ sudo chown root /etc/group- 
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify User Who Owns Backup gshadow File

    To properly set the owner of /etc/gshadow-, run the command:
    $ sudo chown root /etc/gshadow- 
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify User Who Owns passwd File

    To properly set the owner of /etc/passwd, run the command:
    $ sudo chown root /etc/passwd 
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify User Who Owns shadow File

    To properly set the owner of /etc/shadow, run the command:
    $ sudo chown root /etc/shadow 
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on Backup group File

    To properly set the permissions of /etc/group-, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0644 /etc/group-
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on Backup gshadow File

    To properly set the permissions of /etc/gshadow-, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0000 /etc/gshadow-
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on Backup passwd File

    To properly set the permissions of /etc/passwd-, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0644 /etc/passwd-
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on Backup shadow File

    To properly set the permissions of /etc/shadow-, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0000 /etc/shadow-
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on gshadow File

    To properly set the permissions of /etc/gshadow, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0000 /etc/gshadow
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on passwd File

    To properly set the permissions of /etc/passwd, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0644 /etc/passwd
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on shadow File

    To properly set the permissions of /etc/shadow, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0000 /etc/shadow
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on Files within /var/log Directory

    The /var/log directory contains files with logs of error messages in the system and should only be accessed by authorized personnel.
    Group
  • Verify Group Who Owns /var/log Directory

    To properly set the group owner of /var/log, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /var/log
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Who Owns /var/log/messages File

    To properly set the group owner of /var/log/messages, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp root /var/log/messages
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Group Who Owns /var/log/syslog File

    To properly set the group owner of /var/log/syslog, run the command:
    $ sudo chgrp adm /var/log/syslog
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify User Who Owns /var/log Directory

    To properly set the owner of /var/log, run the command:
    $ sudo chown root /var/log 
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify User Who Owns /var/log/messages File

    To properly set the owner of /var/log/messages, run the command:
    $ sudo chown root /var/log/messages 
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify User Who Owns /var/log/syslog File

    To properly set the owner of /var/log/syslog, run the command:
    $ sudo chown syslog /var/log/syslog 
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on /var/log Directory

    To properly set the permissions of /var/log, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0755 /var/log
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on /var/log/messages File

    To properly set the permissions of /var/log/messages, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0640 /var/log/messages
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Verify Permissions on /var/log/syslog File

    To properly set the permissions of /var/log/syslog, run the command:
    $ sudo chmod 0640 /var/log/syslog
    Rule Medium Severity

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