The Ubuntu operating system must disable automatic mounting of Universal Serial Bus (USB) mass storage driver.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-251505 | UBTU-20-010461 | SV-251505r958820_rule | CCI-001958 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| Without authenticating devices, unidentified or unknown devices may be introduced, thereby facilitating malicious activity. Peripherals include, but are not limited to, such devices as flash drives, external storage, and printers. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Canonical Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-16 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-251505r958820_chk)
Verify that Ubuntu operating system disables ability to load the USB storage kernel module.
# grep usb-storage /etc/modprobe.d/* | grep "/bin/false"
install usb-storage /bin/false
If the command does not return any output, or the line is commented out, this is a finding.
Verify the operating system disables the ability to use USB mass storage device.
# grep usb-storage /etc/modprobe.d/* | grep -i "blacklist"
blacklist usb-storage
If the command does not return any output, or the line is commented out, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-54894r942850_fix)
Configure the Ubuntu operating system to disable using the USB storage kernel module.
Create a file under "/etc/modprobe.d" to contain the following:
# sudo su -c "echo install usb-storage /bin/false >> /etc/modprobe.d/DISASTIG.conf"
Configure the operating system to disable the ability to use USB mass storage devices.
# sudo su -c "echo blacklist usb-storage >> /etc/modprobe.d/DISASTIG.conf"