The Photon operating system must disable unnecessary kernel modules.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-258825	PHTN-40-000047	SV-258825r933536_rule		Medium

Description

It is detrimental for operating systems to provide, or install by default, functionality exceeding requirements or mission objectives. These unnecessary capabilities or services are often overlooked and therefore may remain unsecured. They increase the risk to the platform by providing additional attack vectors. Operating systems are capable of providing a wide variety of functions and services. Some of the functions and services, provided by default, may not be necessary to support essential organizational operations (e.g., key missions, functions). Examples of nonessential capabilities include, but are not limited to, games, software packages, tools, and demonstration software, not related to requirements or providing a wide array of functionality not required for every mission, but which cannot be disabled. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000095-GPOS-00049, SRG-OS-000114-GPOS-00059

STIG	Date
VMware vSphere 8.0 vCenter Appliance Photon OS 4.0 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-10-29

Details

Check Text ( C-62565r933534_chk )

At the command line, run the following command to verify the following kernel modules are not loaded: # modprobe --showconfig | grep "^install" | grep "/bin" Expected result: install bridge /bin/false install sctp /bin/false install dccp /bin/false install dccp_ipv4 /bin/false install dccp_ipv6 /bin/false install ipx /bin/false install appletalk /bin/false install decnet /bin/false install rds /bin/false install tipc /bin/false install bluetooth /bin/false install usb_storage /bin/false install ieee1394 /bin/false install cramfs /bin/false install freevxfs /bin/false install jffs2 /bin/false install hfs /bin/false install hfsplus /bin/false install squashfs /bin/false install udf /bin/false The output may include other statements outside of the expected result. If the output does not include at least every statement in the expected result, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-62474r933535_fix)

Navigate to and open: /etc/modprobe.d/modprobe.conf Set the contents as follows: install bridge /bin/false install sctp /bin/false install dccp /bin/false install dccp_ipv4 /bin/false install dccp_ipv6 /bin/false install ipx /bin/false install appletalk /bin/false install decnet /bin/false install rds /bin/false install tipc /bin/false install bluetooth /bin/false install usb_storage /bin/false install ieee1394 /bin/false install cramfs /bin/false install freevxfs /bin/false install jffs2 /bin/false install hfs /bin/false install hfsplus /bin/false install squashfs /bin/false install udf /bin/false