Title

The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system must initiate a session lock for graphical user interfaces when the screensaver is activated. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

A session time-out 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. Rather than relying on the user to manually lock their operating system session prior to vacating the vicinity, operating systems need to be able to identify when a user's session has idled and take action to initiate the session lock. The session lock is implemented at the point where session activity can be determined and/or controlled.

Check Content

Verify the operating system initiates a session lock a for graphical user interfaces when the screensaver is activated. Note: If the system does not have GNOME installed, this requirement is Not Applicable. If GNOME is installed, check to see a session lock occurs when the screensaver is activated with the following command: # grep -i lock-delay /etc/dconf/db/local.d/* lock-delay=uint32 5 If the "lock-delay" setting is missing, or is not set to "5" or less, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the operating system to initiate a session lock for graphical user interfaces when a screensaver is activated. Create a database to contain the system-wide screensaver settings (if it does not already exist) with the following command: # touch /etc/dconf/db/local.d/00-screensaver Add the setting to enable session locking when a screensaver is activated: [org/gnome/desktop/screensaver] lock-delay=uint32 5 The "uint32" must be included along with the integer key values as shown. Update the system databases: # dconf update Users must log out and back in again before the system-wide settings take effect.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-204404r880788_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-204404

Group Title: SRG-OS-000029-GPOS-00010

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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