CIS Ubuntu Linux 18.04 LTS Benchmark v2.2.0 - Control 4.5.2
Profile Applicability
- Level 1 - Server
- Level 1 - Workstation
Description
There are a number of accounts provided with most distributions that are used to manage applications and are not intended to provide an interactive shell.
Rationale
It is important to make sure that accounts that are not being used by regular users are prevented from being used to provide an interactive shell. By default, most distributions set the password field for these accounts to an invalid string, but it is also recommended that the shell field in the password file be set to the nologin shell. This prevents the account from potentially being used to run any commands.
Audit Procedure
Command Line
Run the following script to verify all local system accounts:
- Do not have a valid login shell
- Are locked
#!/usr/bin/env bash
{
l_output="" l_output2=""
l_valid_shells="$($(awk -F\/ '$NF != "nologin" {print}' /etc/shells | sed -rn '/^\//{s,/,\\/,g;p}' | paste -s -d '|' - )$"
a_users=(); a_ulock=()
while read -r l_user; do
a_users+=("$l_user")
done < <(awk -v pat="$l_valid_shells" -F: '($1!~/^(root|sync|shutdown|halt)^\+/) && $3<'"$(awk '/^\s*UID_MIN/{print $2}' /etc/login.defs)"' && $(NF) ~ pat { print $1 }' /etc/passwd)
while read -r l_ulock; do
a_ulock+=("$l_ulock")
done < <(awk -v pat="$l_valid_shells" -F: '($1!~/^(root)^\+/) && $2!~/LK?/ && $3<'"$(awk '/^\s*UID_MIN/{print $2}' /etc/login.defs)"' && $(NF) ~ pat { print $1 }' /etc/passwd)
if ! (( ${#a_users[@]} > 0 )); then
l_output="$l_output\n - local system accounts login is disabled"
else
l_output2="$l_output2\n - There are \"$(printf '%s' "${#a_users[@]}")\" system accounts with login enabled\n - List of accounts:\n$(printf '%s\n' "${a_users[@]:0:$l_limit}")\n - end of list\n"
fi
if ! (( ${#a_ulock[@]} > 0 )); then
l_output="$l_output\n - local system accounts are locked"
else
l_output2="$l_output2\n - There are \"$(printf '%s' "${#a_ulock[@]}")\" system accounts that are not locked\n - List of accounts:\n$(printf '%s\n' "${a_ulock[@]:0:$l_limit}")\n - end of list\n"
fi
if [ -z "$l_output2" ]; then
echo -e "\n- Audit Result:\n ** PASS **\n - Correctly configured * :$l_output\n"
else
echo -e "\n- Audit Result:\n ** FAIL **\n - Reasons for audit failure * :$l_output2"
[ -n "$l_output" ] && echo -e "- * Correctly configured * :$l_output\n"
fi
}
Note: The root, sync, shutdown, and halt users are exempted from requiring a non-login shell. root is exempt from being locked.
Expected Result
** PASS ** - Correctly configured
Remediation
Command Line
Set the shell for any accounts returned by the audit to nologin:
usermod -s $(which nologin) <user>
Lock any non root accounts returned by the audit:
usermod -L <user>
References
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: AC-2. AC-3, AC-5, MP-2
CIS Controls
v8 - 3.3 Configure Data Access Control Lists - Configure data access control lists based on a user's need to know.
v7 - 14.6 Protect Information through Access Control Lists.
Profile Applicability
- Level 1 - Server
- Level 1 - Workstation
Assessment Status
Automated