The value mesg n must be configured as the default setting for all users.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-216108 | SOL-11.1-040270 | SV-216108r959010_rule | CCI-000366 | low |
| Description | ||||
| The "mesg n" command blocks attempts to use the "write" or "talk" commands to contact users at their terminals, but has the side effect of slightly strengthening permissions on the user's TTY device. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Solaris 11 X86 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-05 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-216108r959010_chk)
Determine if "mesg n" is the default for users.
# grep "^mesg" /etc/.login
# grep "^mesg" /etc/profile
If either of these commands produces a line:
mesg y
this is a finding.
For each existing user on the system, enter the command:
# mesg
If the command output is:
is y
this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-17344r372707_fix)
The root role is required.
Edit the default profile configuration files.
# pfedit /etc/profile
# pfedit /etc/.login
In each file add a new line:
mesg n
For each user on the system, enter the command:
# mesg n