Title

IBM z/OS UNIX HFS permission bits and audit bits for each directory must be properly protected or specified. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

If the operating system were to allow any user to make changes to software libraries, then those changes might be implemented without undergoing the appropriate testing and approvals that are part of a robust change management process. This requirement applies to operating systems with software libraries that are accessible and configurable, as in the case of interpreted languages. Software libraries also include privileged programs which execute with escalated privileges. Only qualified and authorized individuals must be allowed to obtain access to information system components for purposes of initiating changes, including upgrades and modifications.

Check Content

From the ISPF Command Shell enter: omvs cd / ls -alW If the HFS permission bits and user audit bits for each directory and file match or are more restrictive than the specified settings listed in the table below, this is not a finding. SYSTEM DIRECTORY SECURITY SETTINGS DIRECTORY PERMISSION BITS USER AUDIT BITS FUNCTION / [root] 755 faf Root level of all file systems. Holds critical mount points. /bin 1755 fff Shell scripts and executables for basic functions /dev 1755 fff Character-special files used when logging into the OMVS shell and during C language program compilation. Files are created during system IPL and on a per-demand basis. /etc 1755 faf Configuration programs and files (usually with locally customized data) used by z/OS UNIX and other product initialization processes /lib 1755 fff System libraries including dynamic link libraries and files for static linking /samples 1755 fff Sample configuration and other files /tmp 1777 fff Temporary data used by daemons, servers, and users. Note: /tmp must have the sticky bit on to restrict file renames and deletions. /u 1755 fff Mount point for user home directories and optionally for third-party software and other local site files /usr 1755 fff Shell scripts, executables, help (man) files and other data. Contains sub-directories (e.g., lpp) and mount points used by program products that may be in separate file systems. /var 1775 fff Dynamic data used internally by products and by elements and features of z/OS UNIX. The following represents a hierarchy for permission bits from least restrictive to most restrictive: 7 rwx (least restrictive) 6 rw- 3 -wx 2 -w- 5 r-x 4 r-- 1 --x 0 --- (most restrictive) The possible audit bits settings are as follows: f log for failed access attempts a log for failed and successful access - no auditing

Fix Text

Define the UNIX permission bits and user audit bits on each of the HFS directory in the table below to be equal or more restrictive. SYSTEM DIRECTORY SECURITY SETTINGS DIRECTORY PERMISSION BITS USER AUDIT BITS FUNCTION / [root] 755 faf Root level of all file systems. Holds critical mount points. /bin 1755 fff Shell scripts and executables for basic functions /dev 1755 fff Character-special files used when logging into the OMVS shell and during C language program compilation. Files are created during system IPL and on a per-demand basis. /etc 1755 faf Configuration programs and files (usually with locally customized data) used by z/OS UNIX and other product initialization processes /lib 1755 fff System libraries including dynamic link libraries and files for static linking /samples 1755 fff Sample configuration and other files /tmp 1777 fff Temporary data used by daemons, servers, and users. Note: /tmp must have the sticky bit on to restrict file renames and deletions. /u 1755 fff Mount point for user home directories and optionally for third-party software and other local site files /usr 1755 fff Shell scripts, executables, help (man) files and other data. Contains sub-directories (e.g., lpp) and mount points used by program products that may be in separate file systems. /var 1775 fff Dynamic data used internally by products and by elements and features of z/OS UNIX. The following represents a hierarchy for permission bits from least restrictive to most restrictive: 7 rwx (least restrictive) 6 rw- 3 -wx 2 -w- 5 r-x 4 r-- 1 --x 0 --- (most restrictive) The possible audit bits settings are as follows: f log for failed access attempts a log for failed and successful access - no auditing The following commands are a sample of the commands to be used (from a user account with an effective UID(0)) to update the permission bits and audit bits: chmod 0755 / chaudit w=sf,rx+f / chmod 0755 /bin chaudit rwx=f /bin

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-223628r533198_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-223628

Group Title: SRG-OS-000259-GPOS-00100

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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