RHEL 9 must enable kernel parameters to enforce discretionary access control on hardlinks.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-257801	RHEL-09-213030	SV-257801r925390_rule		Medium

Description
By enabling the fs.protected_hardlinks kernel parameter, users can no longer create soft or hard links to files they do not own. Disallowing such hardlinks mitigates vulnerabilities based on insecure file system accessed by privileged programs, avoiding an exploitation vector exploiting unsafe use of open() or creat(). Satisfies: SRG-OS-000312-GPOS-00123, SRG-OS-000324-GPOS-00125

STIG	Date
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-12-01

Details

Check Text ( C-61542r925388_chk )

Verify RHEL 9 is configured to enable DAC on hardlinks. Check the status of the fs.protected_hardlinks kernel parameter with the following command: $ sudo sysctl fs.protected_hardlinks fs.protected_hardlinks = 1 If "fs.protected_hardlinks" is not set to "1" or is missing, this is a finding. Check that the configuration files are present to enable this kernel parameter. $ sudo /usr/lib/systemd/systemd-sysctl --cat-config | egrep -v '^(#|;)' | grep -F fs.protected_hardlinks | tail -1 fs.protected_hardlinks = 1 If "fs.protected_hardlinks" is not set to "1" or is missing, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-61466r925389_fix)
Configure RHEL 9 to enable DAC on hardlinks with the following: Add or edit the following line in a system configuration file in the "/etc/sysctl.d/" directory: fs.protected_hardlinks = 1 Load settings from all system configuration files with the following command: $ sudo sysctl --system