Disable graphical user interface
An XCCDF Rule
Description
By removing the following packages, the system no longer has X Windows installed.
xorg-x11-server-Xorg xorg-x11-server-common xorg-x11-server-utils xorg-x11-server-Xwayland
If X Windows is not installed then the system cannot boot into graphical user mode.
This prevents the system from being accidentally or maliciously booted into a graphical.target
mode. To do so, run the following command:
sudo yum remove xorg-x11-server-Xorg xorg-x11-server-common xorg-x11-server-utils xorg-x11-server-Xwayland
warning alert: Functionality Warning
The installation and use of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) increases your attack vector and decreases your
overall security posture. Removing the package xorg-x11-server-common package will remove the graphical target
which might bring your system to an inconsistent state requiring additional configuration to access the system
again.
The rule
xwindows_runlevel_target can be used to configure the system to boot into the multi-user.target.
If a GUI is an operational requirement, a tailored profile that removes this rule should be used before
continuing installation.Rationale
Unnecessary service packages must not be installed to decrease the attack surface of the system. X windows has a long history of security vulnerabilities and should not be installed unless approved and documented.
- ID
- xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_rule_xwindows_remove_packages
- Severity
- Medium
- References
- Updated
Remediation - Shell Script
# remove packages
if rpm -q --quiet "xorg-x11-server-Xorg" ; then
yum remove -y "xorg-x11-server-Xorg"
Remediation - Anaconda Pre-Install Instructions
package --remove=xorg-x11-server-Xorg --remove=xorg-x11-server-common --remove=xorg-x11-server-utils --remove=xorg-x11-server-Xwayland