SLEM 5 wireless network adapters must be disabled unless approved and documented.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-261346 | SLEM-05-291010 | SV-261346r1184409_rule | CCI-001444 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| Without protection of communications with wireless peripherals, confidentiality and integrity may be compromised because unprotected communications can be intercepted and either read, altered, or used to compromise SLEM 5. This requirement applies to wireless peripheral technologies (e.g., wireless mice, keyboards, displays, etc.) used with a SLEM 5. Wireless peripherals (e.g., Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/IR keyboards, mice, pointing devices, and Near Field Communications [NFC]) present a unique challenge by creating an open, unsecured port on a computer. Wireless peripherals must meet DOD requirements for wireless data transmission and be approved for use by the AO. Even though some wireless peripherals, such as mice and pointing devices, do not ordinarily carry information that need to be protected, modification of communications with these wireless peripherals may be used to compromise SLEM 5. Communication paths outside the physical protection of a controlled boundary are exposed to the possibility of interception and modification. Protecting the confidentiality and integrity of communications with wireless peripherals can be accomplished by physical means (e.g., employing physical barriers to wireless radio frequencies) or by logical means (e.g., employing cryptographic techniques). If physical means of protection are employed, then logical means (cryptography) do not have to be employed, and vice versa. If the wireless peripheral is only passing telemetry data, encryption of the data may not be required. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro (SLEM) 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-02-10 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-261346r1184409_chk)
Verify SLEM 5 has no wireless network adapters enabled.
Check the status of all network devices with this command:
> nmcli device status
DEVICE TYPE STATE CONNECTION
eth0 ethernet connected Wired connection 1
lo loopback unmanaged --
If there is a device listed with a type of "wifi", and it is not documented and approved as an operational requirement with the authorizing official (AO), this is a finding.
Check the status of the software switches with the following command:
> nmcli radio
WIFI-HW WIFI WWAN-HW WWAN
missing disabled missing disabled
If any wireless devices are "enabled" that are not documented and approved as an operational requirement with the AO, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-64983r1184408_fix)
Configure SLEM 5 to disable all wireless network interfaces.
Run "nmcli device status" and note the device name from the DEVICE column for any wireless devices (e.g., wlan0).
Set the device to unmanaged using the device name:
> sudo nmcli device set wlan0 managed no
Set the software switches to "off" with the following commands:
> sudo nmcli radio wwan off
> sudo nmcli radio wifi off