Title

IBM z/OS must employ a session manager to conceal, via the session lock, information previously visible on the display with a publicly viewable image. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

A session lock is a temporary action taken when a user stops work and moves away from the immediate physical vicinity of the information system but does not log out because of the temporary nature of the absence. The session lock is implemented at the point where session activity can be determined. The operating system session lock event must include an obfuscation of the display screen so as to prevent other users from reading what was previously displayed. Publicly viewable images can include static or dynamic images, for example, patterns used with screen savers, photographic images, solid colors, a clock, a battery life indicator, or a blank screen, with the additional caveat that none of the images convey sensitive information.

Check Content

Ask the system administrator for the configuration parameters for the session manager in use. If there is no session manager in use, this is a finding. If the session manager is not configured to conceal, via the session lock, information previously visible on the display with a publicly viewable image, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the session manager to conceal, via the session lock, information previously visible on the display with a publicly viewable image.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-224032r877870_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-224032

Group Title: SRG-OS-000031-GPOS-00012

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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