Detections
Analytics

1.6.1 Ensure message of the day is configured properly

Information

The contents of the /etc/motd file are displayed to users after login and function as a message of the day for authenticated users.

Unix-based systems have typically displayed information about the OS release and patch level upon logging in to the system. This information can be useful to developers who are developing software for a particular OS platform.

Warning messages inform users who are attempting to login to the system of their legal status regarding the system and must include the name of the organization that owns the system and any monitoring policies that are in place. Displaying OS and patch level information in login banners also has the side effect of providing detailed system information to attackers attempting to target specific system exploits. Once logged in, authorized users can easily get this information by running the " uname -a " command.

FreeBSD, by default, uses a service motd to generate the running FreeBSD version and add it to the /etc/motd file.

Solution

Edit the /etc/motd file with the appropriate contents according to your site policy, remove any references to the OS platform.

-OR-

-IF- the motd is not used, this file can be removed.

Run the following command to disable the motd service:

# rm -f /etc/motd
# service motd stop
# service motd disable
# cat /etc/mot

Add the default template without any version-specific information:

# cp /etc/motd.template /etc/motd

-OR-

Edit the file /etc/motd with content that is appropriate to your site policy.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/19044

Item Details

Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

References: 800-53|CM-1, 800-53|CM-3, 800-53|CM-6

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 8acb33bcc95aa3bd34b4dd3a37a80878b783faf13b04c980ddc94ff1c254603e