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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
Updated



Remediation - Puppet

include disable_sysstat

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

Remediation - Ansible

- name: Gather the package facts
  package_facts:
    manager: auto
  tags:
  - CCE-82388-0
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)

Remediation - OS Build Blueprint


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

Remediation - Kubernetes Patch

apiVersion: machineconfiguration.openshift.io/v1
kind: MachineConfig
spec:
  config:
    ignition:
      version: 3.1.0

Remediation - script:kickstart


service disable sysstat

Remediation - Shell Script

# 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'