Title

The syslog daemon must not accept remote messages unless it is a syslog server documented using site-defined procedures. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Unintentionally running a syslog server accepting remote messages puts the system at increased risk. Malicious syslog messages sent to the server could exploit vulnerabilities in the server software itself, could introduce misleading information in to the system's logs, or could fill the system's storage leading to a Denial of Service.

Check Content

#ps -ef | grep syslogd If the '-r' option is present. This is a finding.

Fix Text

Edit the syslog startup script and remove the '-r' option to the rsyslogd command, if it is there. Command line options may also be provided by the RSYSLOGD_PARAMS variable in the /etc/sysconfig/syslog file. This variable may be accessed using the ‘System’ > ‘/etc/sysconfig Editor’ in YaST. It is found by expanding ‘+System’ and then ‘+Logging’. Restart the syslog service after making any change to the runtime options.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-45991r1_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-12021

Group Title: GEN005480

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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