Disable System Statistics Reset Service (sysstat)

An XCCDF Rule

Description

The sysstat service resets various I/O and CPU performance statistics to zero in order to begin counting from a fresh state at boot time. The sysstat service can be disabled with the following command:

$ sudo systemctl mask --now sysstat.service

Rationale

By default the sysstat service runs a program at boot to reset performance statistics. This data can be retrieved using programs such as sar and sadc. While the sysstat service may provide useful insight into system operation, through the lens of providing only essential system services, this service should be disabled.

ID: xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_rule_service_sysstat_disabled
Severity: Low
References: 11 14 3 9

BAI10.01 BAI10.02 BAI10.03 BAI10.05 DSS05.02 DSS05.05 DSS06.06

4.3.3.5.1 4.3.3.5.2 4.3.3.5.3 4.3.3.5.4 4.3.3.5.5 4.3.3.5.6 4.3.3.5.7 4.3.3.5.8 4.3.3.6.1 4.3.3.6.2 4.3.3.6.3 4.3.3.6.4 4.3.3.6.5 4.3.3.6.6 4.3.3.6.7 4.3.3.6.8 4.3.3.6.9 4.3.3.7.1 4.3.3.7.2 4.3.3.7.3 4.3.3.7.4 4.3.4.3.2 4.3.4.3.3

SR 1.1 SR 1.10 SR 1.11 SR 1.12 SR 1.13 SR 1.2 SR 1.3 SR 1.4 SR 1.5 SR 1.6 SR 1.7 SR 1.8 SR 1.9 SR 2.1 SR 2.2 SR 2.3 SR 2.4 SR 2.5 SR 2.6 SR 2.7 SR 7.6

A.12.1.2 A.12.5.1 A.12.6.2 A.14.2.2 A.14.2.3 A.14.2.4 A.9.1.2

CM-6(a) CM-7(a) CM-7(b)

PR.IP-1 PR.PT-3

CCE-82388-0
Updated: about 1 month ago

Remediation Templates

include disable_sysstat
class disable_sysstat {
  service {'sysstat':
    enable => false,
    ensure => 'stopped',
  }
}

- name: Gather the package facts
  package_facts:
    manager: auto
  tags:
  - CCE-82388-0
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)  - NIST-800-53-CM-7(a)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-7(b)
  - disable_strategy
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - low_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - service_sysstat_disabled
- name: Disable System Statistics Reset Service (sysstat) - Collect systemd Services
    Present in the System
  ansible.builtin.command: systemctl -q list-unit-files --type service
  register: service_exists
  changed_when: false
  failed_when: service_exists.rc not in [0, 1]
  check_mode: false
  when: '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  tags:
  - CCE-82388-0
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-7(a)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-7(b)
  - disable_strategy
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - low_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - service_sysstat_disabled

- name: Disable System Statistics Reset Service (sysstat) - Ensure sysstat.service
    is Masked
  ansible.builtin.systemd:
    name: sysstat.service
    state: stopped
    enabled: false
    masked: true
  when:
  - '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  - service_exists.stdout_lines is search("sysstat.service", multiline=True)
  tags:
  - CCE-82388-0
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-7(a)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-7(b)
  - disable_strategy
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - low_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - service_sysstat_disabled

- name: Unit Socket Exists - sysstat.socket
  ansible.builtin.command: systemctl -q list-unit-files sysstat.socket
  register: socket_file_exists
  changed_when: false
  failed_when: socket_file_exists.rc not in [0, 1]
  check_mode: false
  when: '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  tags:
  - CCE-82388-0
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-7(a)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-7(b)
  - disable_strategy
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - low_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - service_sysstat_disabled

- name: Disable System Statistics Reset Service (sysstat) - Disable Socket sysstat
  ansible.builtin.systemd:
    name: sysstat.socket
    enabled: false
    state: stopped
    masked: true
  when:
  - '"kernel" in ansible_facts.packages'
  - socket_file_exists.stdout_lines is search("sysstat.socket", multiline=True)
  tags:
  - CCE-82388-0
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-7(a)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-7(b)
  - disable_strategy
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - low_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - service_sysstat_disabled

[customizations.services]
masked = ["sysstat"]

apiVersion: machineconfiguration.openshift.io/v1
kind: MachineConfig
spec:
  config:
    ignition:
      version: 3.1.0    systemd:
      units:
      - name: sysstat.service
        enabled: false
        mask: true
      - name: sysstat.socket
        enabled: false
        mask: true

service disable sysstat

# Remediation is applicable only in certain platforms
if rpm --quiet -q kernel; then
SYSTEMCTL_EXEC='/usr/bin/systemctl'
"$SYSTEMCTL_EXEC" stop 'sysstat.service'
"$SYSTEMCTL_EXEC" disable 'sysstat.service'
"$SYSTEMCTL_EXEC" mask 'sysstat.service'# Disable socket activation if we have a unit file for it
if "$SYSTEMCTL_EXEC" -q list-unit-files sysstat.socket; then
    "$SYSTEMCTL_EXEC" stop 'sysstat.socket'
    "$SYSTEMCTL_EXEC" mask 'sysstat.socket'
fi
# The service may not be running because it has been started and failed,
# so let's reset the state so OVAL checks pass.
# Service should be 'inactive', not 'failed' after reboot though.
"$SYSTEMCTL_EXEC" reset-failed 'sysstat.service' || true

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

Disable System Statistics Reset Service (sysstat)

Description

Rationale

Remediation Templates

A Puppet Snippet

An Ansible Snippet

OS Build Blueprint

A Kubernetes Patch

script:kickstart

A Shell Script