Layer 2 Switch Security Requirements Guide
Rules, Groups, and Values defined within the XCCDF Benchmark
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SRG-NET-000131
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The layer 2 switch must be configured to disable non-essential capabilities.
A compromised switch introduces risk to the entire network infrastructure as well as data resources that are accessible via the network. The perimeter defense has no oversight or control of attacks...Rule Medium Severity -
The layer 2 switch must authenticate all VLAN Trunk Protocol (VTP) messages with a hash function using the most secured cryptographic algorithm available.
VLAN Trunk Protocol (VTP) provides central management of VLAN domains, thus reducing administration in a switched network. When configuring a new VLAN on a VTP server, the VLAN is distributed throu...Rule Medium Severity -
The layer 2 switch must provide the capability for authorized users to remotely view, in real time, all content related to an established user session from a component separate from the layer 2 switch.
Without the capability to remotely view/hear all content related to a user session, investigations into suspicious user activity would be hampered. Real-time monitoring allows authorized personnel ...Rule Medium Severity -
The layer 2 switch must authenticate all network-connected endpoint devices before establishing any connection.
Without authenticating devices, unidentified or unknown devices may be introduced, thereby facilitating malicious activity. For distributed architectures (e.g., service-oriented architectures), th...Rule Medium Severity -
The layer 2 switch must have BPDU Guard enabled on all user-facing or untrusted access switch ports.
If a rogue switch is introduced into the topology and transmits a Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) with a lower bridge priority than the existing root bridge, it will become the new root bridge and...Rule Medium Severity -
The layer 2 switch must have STP Loop Guard enabled on all non-designated STP switch ports.
The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) loop guard feature provides additional protection against STP loops. An STP loop is created when an STP blocking port in a redundant topology erroneously transition...Rule Medium Severity -
The layer 2 switch must have Unknown Unicast Flood Blocking (UUFB) enabled.
Access layer switches use the Content Addressable Memory (CAM) table to direct traffic to specific ports based on the VLAN number and the destination MAC address of the frame. When a router has an ...Rule Medium Severity -
The layer 2 switch must have Dynamic Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) Inspection (DAI) enabled on all user VLANs.
DAI intercepts Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests and verifies that each of these packets has a valid IP-to-MAC address binding before updating the local ARP cache and before forwarding the...Rule Medium Severity -
The layer 2 switch must have IGMP or MLD Snooping configured on all VLANs
IGMP and MLD snooping provides a way to constrain multicast traffic at Layer 2. By monitoring the IGMP or MLD membership reports sent by hosts within a VLAN, the snooping application can set up Lay...Rule Low Severity -
The layer 2 switch must have all trunk links enabled statically.
When trunk negotiation is enabled via Dynamic Trunk Protocol (DTP), considerable time can be spent negotiating trunk settings (802.1q or ISL) when a node or interface is restored. While this negoti...Rule Medium Severity -
The layer 2 switch must have the default VLAN pruned from all trunk ports that do not require it.
The default VLAN (i.e., VLAN 1) is a special VLAN used for control plane traffic such as Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP), Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP), VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP), and Port Aggreg...Rule Medium Severity -
The layer 2 switch must have all user-facing or untrusted ports configured as access switch ports.
Double encapsulation can be initiated by an attacker who has access to a switch port belonging to the native VLAN of the trunk port. Knowing the victim's MAC address and with the victim attached to...Rule Medium Severity -
The layer 2 switch must have the native VLAN assigned to an ID other than the default VLAN for all 802.1q trunk links.
VLAN hopping can be initiated by an attacker who has access to a switch port belonging to the same VLAN as the native VLAN of the trunk link connecting to another switch that the victim is connecte...Rule Medium Severity -
SRG-NET-000512
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SRG-NET-000148
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The layer 2 switch must uniquely identify all network-connected endpoint devices before establishing any connection.
Controlling LAN access via 802.1x authentication can assist in preventing a malicious user from connecting an unauthorized PC to a switch port to inject or receive data from the network without det...Rule High Severity -
SRG-NET-000168
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SRG-NET-000193
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The layer 2 switch must manage excess bandwidth to limit the effects of packet flooding types of denial of service (DoS) attacks.
Denial of service is a condition when a resource is not available for legitimate users. Packet flooding DDoS attacks are referred to as volumetric attacks and have the objective of overloading a ne...Rule Medium Severity
Node 2
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