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3.2.7 Ensure can kernel module is not available

Information

The Controller Area Network (CAN) is a serial communications protocol, which was initially developed for automotive and is now also used in marine, industrial, and medical applications. Disabling CAN protects the system against exploitation of any flaws in its implementation.

It is detrimental for operating systems to provide, or install by default, functionality exceeding requirements or mission objectives. These unnecessary capabilities or services are often overlooked and therefore may remain unsecured. They increase the risk to the platform by providing additional attack vectors.

Failing to disconnect unused protocols can result in a system compromise.

Solution

Configure the operating system to disable the ability to use the CAN protocol kernel module.

Add or update the following lines in the file "/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf":

install can /bin/false
blacklist can

Run the following script to unload and disable the can module:

- IF - the can kernel module is available in ANY installed kernel:

 - Create a file ending in .conf with install can /bin/false in the /etc/modprobe.d/ directory
 - Create a file ending in .conf with blacklist can in the /etc/modprobe.d/ directory
 - Run modprobe -r can 2>/dev/null; rmmod can 2>/dev/null to remove can from the kernel

- IF - the can kernel module is not available on the system, or pre-compiled into the kernel, no remediation is necessary

#!/usr/bin/env bash

{
 a_output2=() a_output3=() l_dl="" l_mod_name="can" l_mod_type="net"
 l_mod_path="$(readlink -f /lib/modules/**/kernel/$l_mod_type | sort -u)"
 f_module_fix()
 {
 l_dl="y" a_showconfig=()
 while IFS= read -r l_showconfig; do
 a_showconfig+=("$l_showconfig")
 done < <(modprobe --showconfig | grep -P -- '\b(install|blacklist)\h+'"${l_mod_chk_name//-/_}"'\b')
 if lsmod | grep "$l_mod_chk_name" &> /dev/null; then
 a_output2+=(" - unloading kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\"")
 modprobe -r "$l_mod_chk_name" 2>/dev/null; rmmod "$l_mod_name" 2>/dev/null
 fi
 if ! grep -Pq -- '\binstall\h+'"${l_mod_chk_name//-/_}"'\h+(\/usr)?\/bin\/(true|false)\b' <<< "${a_showconfig[*]}"; then
 a_output2+=(" - setting kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\" to \"$(readlink -f /bin/false)\"")
 printf '%s\n' "install $l_mod_chk_name $(readlink -f /bin/false)" >> /etc/modprobe.d/"$l_mod_name".conf
 fi
 if ! grep -Pq -- '\bblacklist\h+'"${l_mod_chk_name//-/_}"'\b' <<< "${a_showconfig[*]}"; then
 a_output2+=(" - denylisting kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\"")
 printf '%s\n' "blacklist $l_mod_chk_name" >> /etc/modprobe.d/"$l_mod_name".conf
 fi
 }
 for l_mod_base_directory in $l_mod_path; do # Check if the module exists on the system
 if [ -d "$l_mod_base_directory/${l_mod_name/-/\/}" ] && [ -n "$(ls -A "$l_mod_base_directory/${l_mod_name/-/\/}")" ]; then
 a_output3+=(" - \"$l_mod_base_directory\"")
 l_mod_chk_name="$l_mod_name"
 [[ "$l_mod_name" =~ overlay ]] && l_mod_chk_name="${l_mod_name::-2}"
 [ "$l_dl" != "y" ] && f_module_fix
 else
 printf '%s\n' " - kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\" doesn't exist in \"$l_mod_base_directory\""
 fi
 done
 [ "${#a_output3[@]}" -gt 0 ] && printf '%s\n' "" " -- INFO --" " - module: \"$l_mod_name\" exists in:" "${a_output3[@]}"
 [ "${#a_output2[@]}" -gt 0 ] && printf '%s\n' "" "${a_output2[@]}" || printf '%s\n' "" " - No changes needed"
 printf '%s\n' "" " - remediation of kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\" complete" ""
}

Reboot the system for the settings to take effect.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/19886

Item Details

Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

References: 800-53|CM-7, CAT|III, CSCv7|9.2, Rule-ID|SV-230495r942921_rule, Vuln-ID|V-230495

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: ffa63da6b44ddbcedceefe635c9cad2d85330c8d2d0e9aa1f962d147cac17597