Title

The operating system must separate user functionality (including user interface services) from operating system management functionality. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Operating system management functionality includes functions necessary for administration and requires privileged user access. Allowing non-privileged users to access operating system management functionality capabilities increases the risk that non-privileged users may obtain elevated privileges. Operating system management functionality includes functions necessary to administer console, network components, workstations, or servers and typically requires privileged user access. The separation of user functionality from information system management functionality is either physical or logical and is accomplished by using different computers, different central processing units, different instances of the operating system, different network addresses, different TCP/UDP ports, virtualization techniques, combinations of these methods, or other methods, as appropriate. An example of this type of separation is observed in web administrative interfaces that use separate authentication methods for users of any other information system resources. This may include isolating the administrative interface on a different security domain and with additional access controls.

Check Content

Verify the operating system separates user functionality (including user interface services) from operating system management functionality. If it does not, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the operating system to separate user functionality (including user interface services) from operating system management functionality.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-203655r557212_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-203655

Group Title: SRG-OS-000132

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

Controls tied to check. These are derived from the CCIs shown above.