Title

The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system must, for networked systems, synchronize clocks with a server that is synchronized to one of the redundant United States Naval Observatory (USNO) time servers, a time server designated for the appropriate DoD network (NIPRNet/SIPRNet), and/or the Global Positioning System (GPS). (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). Satisfies: SRG-OS-000355-GPOS-00143, SRG-OS-000356-GPOS-00144

Check Content

Check to see if NTP is running in continuous mode: # ps -ef | grep ntp If NTP is not running, check to see if "chronyd" is running in continuous mode: # ps -ef | grep chronyd If NTP or "chronyd" is not running, this is a finding. If the NTP process is found, then check the "ntp.conf" file for the "maxpoll" option setting: # grep maxpoll /etc/ntp.conf server 0.rhel.pool.ntp.org iburst maxpoll 16 If the "maxpoll" option is set to a number greater than 16 or the line is commented out, this is a finding. If the file does not exist, check the "/etc/cron.daily" subdirectory for a crontab file controlling the execution of the "ntpd -q" command. # grep -i "ntpd -q" /etc/cron.daily/* # ls -al /etc/cron.* | grep ntp ntp If a crontab file does not exist in the "/etc/cron.daily" that executes the "ntpd -q" command, this is a finding. If the "chronyd" process is found, then check the "chrony.conf" file for the "maxpoll" option setting: # grep maxpoll /etc/chrony.conf server 0.rhel.pool.ntp.org iburst maxpoll 16 If the option is not set or the line is commented out, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Edit the "/etc/ntp.conf" or "/etc/chrony.conf" file and add or update an entry to define "maxpoll" to "16" as follows: server 0.rhel.pool.ntp.org iburst maxpoll 16 If NTP was running and "maxpoll" was updated, the NTP service must be restarted: # systemctl restart ntpd If NTP was not running, it must be started: # systemctl start ntpd If "chronyd" was running and "maxpoll" was updated, the service must be restarted: # systemctl restart chronyd.service If "chronyd" was not running, it must be started: # systemctl start chronyd.service

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-204603r982208_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-204603

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

Expert Comments

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