Ubuntu 22.04 LTS must disable automatic mounting of Universal Serial Bus (USB) mass storage driver.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-260540 | UBTU-22-291010 | SV-260540r986276_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 22.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-16 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-260540r986276_chk)
Verify Ubuntu 22.04 LTS disables ability to load the USB storage kernel module by using the following command:
$ grep usb-storage /etc/modprobe.d/* | grep "/bin/false"
/etc/modprobe.d/stig.conf:install usb-storage /bin/false
If the command does not return any output, or the line is commented out, this is a finding.
Verify Ubuntu 22.04 LTS disables the ability to use USB mass storage device.
$ grep usb-storage /etc/modprobe.d/* | grep -i "blacklist"
/etc/modprobe.d/stig.conf:blacklist usb-storage
If the command does not return any output, or the line is commented out, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-64177r953432_fix)
Configure Ubuntu 22.04 LTS to disable using the USB storage kernel module.
Create and/or append a custom file under "/etc/modprobe.d/" to contain the following:
$ sudo su -c "echo install usb-storage /bin/false >> /etc/modprobe.d/stig.conf"
Configure Ubuntu 22.04 LTS to disable the ability to use USB mass storage devices.
$ sudo su -c "echo blacklist usb-storage >> /etc/modprobe.d/stig.conf"