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Check: TSS0-OS-000270

IBM z/OS TSS STIG: TSS0-OS-000270 (in versions v9 r2 through v8 r8)

Title

The IBM z/OS SNTP daemon (SNTPD) must be active. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Inaccurate time stamps make it more difficult to correlate events and can lead to an inaccurate analysis. Determining the correct time a particular event occurred on a system is critical when conducting forensic analysis and investigating system events. Sources outside the configured acceptable allowance (drift) may be inaccurate. Synchronizing internal information system clocks provides uniformity of time stamps for information systems with multiple system clocks and systems connected over a network. Organizations should consider endpoints that may not have regular access to the authoritative time server (e.g., mobile, teleworking, and tactical endpoints).

Check Content

From UNIX System Services ISPF Shell, navigate to ribbon select tools. Select option 1 - Work with Processes. If SNTP Daemon (SNTPD) is not active, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Obtain a copy of this sample procedure from SEZAINST and store it in one of your PROCLIB concatenation data sets. Perform the following step to start SNTPD as a procedure: Invoke the procedure using the system operator start command. The following sample, SEZAINST(SNTPD), shows how to start SNTPD as a procedure: //* //* Sample procedure for the Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP) //* //* z/OS Communications Server Version 1 Release 13 //* SMP/E Distribution Name: SEZAINST(EZASNPRO) //* //* Copyright: Licensed Materials - Property of IBM //* 5650-ZOS //* Copyright IBM Corp. 2002, 2015 //* //* Status: CSV2R2 //* //SNTPD EXEC PGM=SNTPD,REGION=4096K,TIME=NOLIMIT, // PARM='/ -d' //SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*,DCB=(RECFM=F,LRECL=132,BLKSIZE=132) //SYSIN DD DUMMY //SYSERR DD SYSOUT=* //SYSOUT DD SYSOUT=*,DCB=(RECFM=F,LRECL=132,BLKSIZE=132) //CEEDUMP DD SYSOUT=* //SYSABEND DD SYSOUT=*

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-224023r998504_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-224023

Group Title: SRG-OS-000355-GPOS-00143

Expert Comments

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CCIs

CCIs tied to check.

Number	Definition
CCI-001891	The information system compares internal information system clocks on an organization-defined frequency with an organization-defined authoritative time source.
CCI-004923	Compare the internal system clocks on an organization-defined frequency with organization-defined authoritative time source.

Controls

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

Number	Title
AU-8(1)	Synchronization with Authoritative Time Source