AlmaLinux OS 9 must require authentication to access single-user mode.

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-269139ALMA-09-006510SV-269139r1050021_ruleCCI-000213medium
Description
This requirement prevents attackers with physical access from easily bypassing security on the machine and gaining root access. Such accesses are further prevented by configuring the bootloader password.
STIGDate
CloudLinux AlmaLinux OS 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide2025-05-22

Details

Check Text (C-269139r1050021_chk)

Verify that AlmaLinux OS 9 requires authentication for single-user mode with the following command: $ grep -E 'ExecStart.*sulogin' /usr/lib/systemd/system/rescue.service ExecStart=-/usr/lib/systemd/systemd-sulogin-shell rescue If this line is not returned or is commented out, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-73071r1049179_fix)

Configure AlmaLinux OS 9 to require authentication for single-user mode. Add or modify the following line in the "/usr/lib/systemd/system/rescue.service" file: ExecStart=-/usr/lib/systemd/systemd-sulogin-shell rescue "sudo systemctl edit rescue.service" can also be used to create a "/etc/systemd/system/rescue.service.d/override.conf" file.