Configure Time Service Maxpoll Interval

An XCCDF Rule

Description

The maxpoll should be configured to in /etc/ntp.conf or /etc/chrony.conf (or /etc/chrony.d/) to continuously poll time servers. To configure maxpoll in /etc/ntp.conf or /etc/chrony.conf (or /etc/chrony.d/) add the following after each server, pool or peer entry:

maxpoll

to server directives. If using chrony, any pool directives should be configured too.

Rationale

Inaccurate time stamps make it more difficult to correlate events and can lead to an inaccurate analysis. Determining the correct time a particular event occurred on a system is critical when conducting forensic analysis and investigating system events. Sources outside the configured acceptable allowance (drift) may be inaccurate. Synchronizing internal information system clocks provides uniformity of time stamps for information systems with multiple system clocks and systems connected over a network. Organizations should consider endpoints that may not have regular access to the authoritative time server (e.g., mobile, teleworking, and tactical endpoints).

ID: xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_rule_chronyd_or_ntpd_set_maxpoll
Severity: Medium
References: 1 14 15 16 3 5 6

APO11.04 BAI03.05 DSS05.04 DSS05.07 MEA02.01

4.3.3.3.9 4.3.3.5.8 4.3.4.4.7 4.4.2.1 4.4.2.2 4.4.2.4

SR 2.10 SR 2.11 SR 2.12 SR 2.8 SR 2.9

A.12.4.1 A.12.4.2 A.12.4.3 A.12.4.4 A.12.7.1

AU-12(1) AU-8(1)(b) CM-6(a)

PR.PT-1

SRG-OS-000355-GPOS-00143 SRG-OS-000356-GPOS-00144 SRG-OS-000359-GPOS-00146

CCI-001890 CCI-004923 CCI-004926
Updated: 5 days ago

# Remediation is applicable only in certain platforms
if rpm --quiet -q kernel && { ( rpm --quiet -q chrony || rpm --quiet -q ntp ); }; then

var_time_service_set_maxpoll='<xccdf-1.2:sub xmlns:xccdf-1.2="http://checklists.nist.gov/xccdf/1.2" idref="xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_value_var_time_service_set_maxpoll" use="legacy"/>'



pof="/usr/sbin/pidof"


CONFIG_FILES="/etc/ntp.conf"
$pof ntpd || {
    CHRONY_D_PATH=/etc/chrony.d/
    mapfile -t CONFIG_FILES < <(find ${CHRONY_D_PATH}.* -type f -name '*.conf')
    CONFIG_FILES+=(/etc/chrony.conf)
}

# get list of ntp files

for config_file in "${CONFIG_FILES[@]}" ; do
    # Set maxpoll values to var_time_service_set_maxpoll
    sed -i "s/^\(\(server\|pool\|peer\).*maxpoll\) [0-9,-][0-9]*\(.*\)$/\1 $var_time_service_set_maxpoll \3/" "$config_file"
done

for config_file in "${CONFIG_FILES[@]}" ; do
    # Add maxpoll to server, pool or peer entries without maxpoll
    grep "^\(server\|pool\|peer\)" "$config_file" | grep -v maxpoll | while read -r line ; do
        sed -i "s/$line/& maxpoll $var_time_service_set_maxpoll/" "$config_file"
    done
done

else
    >&2 echo 'Remediation is not applicable, nothing was done'
fi

- name: Gather the package facts
  package_facts:
    manager: auto
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AU-12(1)
  - NIST-800-53-AU-8(1)(b)  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - chronyd_or_ntpd_set_maxpoll
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - restrict_strategy
- name: XCCDF Value var_time_service_set_maxpoll # promote to variable
  set_fact:
    var_time_service_set_maxpoll: !!str <xccdf-1.2:sub xmlns:xccdf-1.2="http://checklists.nist.gov/xccdf/1.2" idref="xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_value_var_time_service_set_maxpoll" use="legacy"/>
  tags:
    - always

- name: Configure Time Service Maxpoll Interval - Check That /etc/ntp.conf Exist
  ansible.builtin.stat:
    path: /etc/ntp.conf
  register: ntp_conf_exist_result
  when:
  - '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  - ( "chrony" in ansible_facts.packages or "ntp" in ansible_facts.packages )
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AU-12(1)
  - NIST-800-53-AU-8(1)(b)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - chronyd_or_ntpd_set_maxpoll
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - restrict_strategy

- name: Configure Time Service Maxpoll Interval - Update the maxpoll Values in /etc/ntp.conf
  ansible.builtin.replace:
    path: /etc/ntp.conf
    regexp: ^(server.*maxpoll)[ ]+[0-9]+(.*)$
    replace: \1 {{ var_time_service_set_maxpoll }}\2
  when:
  - '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  - ( "chrony" in ansible_facts.packages or "ntp" in ansible_facts.packages )
  - ntp_conf_exist_result.stat.exists
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AU-12(1)
  - NIST-800-53-AU-8(1)(b)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - chronyd_or_ntpd_set_maxpoll
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - restrict_strategy

- name: Configure Time Service Maxpoll Interval - Set the maxpoll Values in /etc/ntp.conf
  ansible.builtin.replace:
    path: /etc/ntp.conf
    regexp: (^server\s+((?!maxpoll).)*)$
    replace: \1 maxpoll {{ var_time_service_set_maxpoll }}\n
  when:
  - '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  - ( "chrony" in ansible_facts.packages or "ntp" in ansible_facts.packages )
  - ntp_conf_exist_result.stat.exists
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AU-12(1)
  - NIST-800-53-AU-8(1)(b)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - chronyd_or_ntpd_set_maxpoll
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - restrict_strategy

- name: Configure Time Service Maxpoll Interval - Check That /etc/chrony.conf Exist
  ansible.builtin.stat:
    path: /etc/chrony.conf
  register: chrony_conf_exist_result
  when:
  - '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  - ( "chrony" in ansible_facts.packages or "ntp" in ansible_facts.packages )
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AU-12(1)
  - NIST-800-53-AU-8(1)(b)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - chronyd_or_ntpd_set_maxpoll
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - restrict_strategy

- name: Configure Time Service Maxpoll Interval - Update the maxpoll Values in /etc/chrony.conf
  ansible.builtin.replace:
    path: /etc/chrony.conf
    regexp: ^((?:server|pool|peer).*maxpoll)[ ]+[0-9]+(.*)$
    replace: \1 {{ var_time_service_set_maxpoll }}\2
  when:
  - '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  - ( "chrony" in ansible_facts.packages or "ntp" in ansible_facts.packages )
  - chrony_conf_exist_result.stat.exists
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AU-12(1)
  - NIST-800-53-AU-8(1)(b)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - chronyd_or_ntpd_set_maxpoll
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - restrict_strategy

- name: Configure Time Service Maxpoll Interval - Set the maxpoll Values in /etc/chrony.conf
  ansible.builtin.replace:
    path: /etc/chrony.conf
    regexp: (^(?:server|pool|peer)\s+((?!maxpoll).)*)$
    replace: \1 maxpoll {{ var_time_service_set_maxpoll }}\n
  when:
  - '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  - ( "chrony" in ansible_facts.packages or "ntp" in ansible_facts.packages )
  - chrony_conf_exist_result.stat.exists
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AU-12(1)
  - NIST-800-53-AU-8(1)(b)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - chronyd_or_ntpd_set_maxpoll
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - restrict_strategy

- name: Configure Time Service Maxpoll Interval - Get Conf Files from /etc/chrony.d/
  ansible.builtin.find:
    path: /etc/chrony.d/
    patterns: '*.conf'
    file_type: file
  register: chrony_d_conf_files
  when:
  - '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  - ( "chrony" in ansible_facts.packages or "ntp" in ansible_facts.packages )
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AU-12(1)
  - NIST-800-53-AU-8(1)(b)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - chronyd_or_ntpd_set_maxpoll
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - restrict_strategy

- name: Configure Time Service Maxpoll Interval - Update the maxpoll Values in /etc/chrony.d/
  ansible.builtin.replace:
    path: '{{ item.path }}'
    regexp: ^((?:server|pool|peer).*maxpoll)[ ]+[0-9,-]+(.*)$
    replace: \1 {{ var_time_service_set_maxpoll }}\2
  loop: '{{ chrony_d_conf_files.files }}'
  when:
  - '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  - ( "chrony" in ansible_facts.packages or "ntp" in ansible_facts.packages )
  - chrony_d_conf_files.matched
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AU-12(1)
  - NIST-800-53-AU-8(1)(b)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - chronyd_or_ntpd_set_maxpoll
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - restrict_strategy

- name: Configure Time Service Maxpoll Interval - Set the maxpoll Values in /etc/chrony.d/
  ansible.builtin.replace:
    path: '{{ item.path }}'
    regexp: (^(?:server|pool|peer)\s+((?!maxpoll).)*)$
    replace: \1 maxpoll {{ var_time_service_set_maxpoll }}\n
  loop: '{{ chrony_d_conf_files.files }}'
  when:
  - '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  - ( "chrony" in ansible_facts.packages or "ntp" in ansible_facts.packages )
  - chrony_d_conf_files.matched
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AU-12(1)
  - NIST-800-53-AU-8(1)(b)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - chronyd_or_ntpd_set_maxpoll
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - restrict_strategy

---
apiVersion: machineconfiguration.openshift.io/v1
kind: MachineConfig
spec:
  config:
    ignition:      version: 3.1.0
    storage:
      files:
      - contents:
          source: data:,{{ %23%20Allow%20for%20extra%20configuration%20files.%20This%20is%20useful%0A%23%20for%20admins%20specifying%20their%20own%20NTP%20servers%0Ainclude%20/etc/chrony.d/%2A.conf%0A%0A%23%20Set%20chronyd%20as%20client-only.%0Aport%200%0A%0A%23%20Disable%20chronyc%20from%20the%20network%0Acmdport%200%0A%0A%23%20Record%20the%20rate%20at%20which%20the%20system%20clock%20gains/losses%20time.%0Adriftfile%20/var/lib/chrony/drift%0A%0A%23%20Allow%20the%20system%20clock%20to%20be%20stepped%20in%20the%20first%20three%20updates%0A%23%20if%20its%20offset%20is%20larger%20than%201%20second.%0Amakestep%201.0%203%0A%0A%23%20Enable%20kernel%20synchronization%20of%20the%20real-time%20clock%20%28RTC%29.%0Artcsync%0A%0A%23%20Enable%20hardware%20timestamping%20on%20all%20interfaces%20that%20support%20it.%0A%23hwtimestamp%20%2A%0A%0A%23%20Increase%20the%20minimum%20number%20of%20selectable%20sources%20required%20to%20adjust%0A%23%20the%20system%20clock.%0A%23minsources%202%0A%0A%23%20Allow%20NTP%20client%20access%20from%20local%20network.%0A%23allow%20192.168.0.0/16%0A%0A%23%20Serve%20time%20even%20if%20not%20synchronized%20to%20a%20time%20source.%0A%23local%20stratum%2010%0A%0A%23%20Require%20authentication%20%28nts%20or%20key%20option%29%20for%20all%20NTP%20sources.%0A%23authselectmode%20require%0A%0A%23%20Specify%20file%20containing%20keys%20for%20NTP%20authentication.%0Akeyfile%20/etc/chrony.keys%0A%0A%23%20Insert/delete%20leap%20seconds%20by%20slewing%20instead%20of%20stepping.%0A%23leapsecmode%20slew%0A%0A%23%20Get%20TAI-UTC%20offset%20and%20leap%20seconds%20from%20the%20system%20tz%20database.%0Aleapsectz%20right/UTC%0A%0A%23%20Specify%20directory%20for%20log%20files.%0Alogdir%20/var/log/chrony%0A%0A%23%20Select%20which%20information%20is%20logged.%0A%23log%20measurements%20statistics%20tracking }}
        mode: 420
        overwrite: true
        path: /etc/chrony.conf
      - contents:
          source: data:,
        mode: 420
        overwrite: true
        path: /etc/chrony.d/.mco-keep
      - contents:
          source: data:,{{ %23%0A%23%20This%20file%20controls%20the%20configuration%20of%20the%20ntp%20server%0A%23%20%7B%7B.var_multiple_time_servers%7D%7D%20we%20have%20to%20put%20variable%20array%20name%20here%20for%20mutilines%20remediation%0A%7B%7B%24var_time_service_set_maxpoll%3A%3D.var_time_service_set_maxpoll%7D%7D%0A%7B%7Brange%20%24element%3A%3D.var_multiple_time_servers%7CtoArrayByComma%7D%7Dserver%20%7B%7B%24element%7D%7D%20minpoll%204%20maxpoll%20%7B%7B%24var_time_service_set_maxpoll%7D%7D%0A%7B%7Bend%7D%7D }}
        mode: 420
        overwrite: true
        path: /etc/chrony.d/ntp-server.conf

Configure Time Service Maxpoll Interval

Description

Rationale

Remediation - Shell Script

Remediation - Ansible

Remediation - Kubernetes Patch