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1.1.1.8 Ensure usb-storage kernel module is not available

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Information

USB storage provides a means to transfer and store files ensuring persistence and availability of the files independent of network connection status. Its popularity and utility has led to USB-based malware being a simple and common means for network infiltration and a first step to establishing a persistent threat within a networked environment.

Restricting USB access on the system will decrease the physical attack surface for a device and diminish the possible vectors to introduce malware.

Solution

Run the following script to unload and disable the usb-storage module:

- IF - the usb-storage kernel module is available in ANY installed kernel:

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

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

#!/usr/bin/env bash

{
 unset a_output2; l_output3="" l_dl="" # unset arrays and clear variables
 l_mod_name="usb-storage" # set module name
 l_mod_type="drivers" # set module type
 l_mod_path="$(readlink -f /lib/modules/**/kernel/$l_mod_type | sort -u)"
 f_module_fix()
 {
 l_dl="y" # Set to ignore duplicate checks
 a_showconfig=() # Create array with modprobe output
 while IFS= read -r l_showconfig; do
 a_showconfig+=("$l_showconfig")
 done < <(modprobe --showconfig | grep -P -- '\b(install|blacklist)\h+'"${l_mod_name//-/_}"'\b')
 if lsmod | grep "$l_mod_name" &> /dev/null; then # Check if the module is currently loaded
 a_output2+=(" - unloading kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\"")
 modprobe -r "$l_mod_name" 2>/dev/null; rmmod "$l_mod_name" 2>/dev/null
 fi
 if ! grep -Pq -- '\binstall\h+'"${l_mod_name//-/_}"'\h+\/bin\/(true|false)\b' <<< "${a_showconfig[*]}"; then
 a_output2+=(" - setting kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\" to \"/bin/false\"")
 printf '%s\n' "install $l_mod_name /bin/false" >> /etc/modprobe.d/"$l_mod_name".conf
 fi
 if ! grep -Pq -- '\bblacklist\h+'"${l_mod_name//-/_}"'\b' <<< "${a_showconfig[*]}"; then
 a_output2+=(" - denylisting kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\"")
 printf '%s\n' "blacklist $l_mod_name" >> /etc/modprobe.d/"$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
 l_output3="$l_output3\n - \"$l_mod_base_directory\""
 [[ "$l_mod_name" =~ overlay ]] && l_mod_name="${l_mod_name::-2}"
 [ "$l_dl" != "y" ] && f_module_fix
 else
 echo -e " - kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\" doesn't exist in \"$l_mod_base_directory\""
 fi
 done
 [ -n "$l_output3" ] && echo -e "\n\n -- INFO --\n - module: \"$l_mod_name\" exists in:$l_output3"
 [ "${#a_output2[@]}" -gt 0 ] && printf '%s\n' "${a_output2[@]}"
 echo -e "\n - remediation of kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\" complete\n"
}

Impact:

Disabling the usb-storage module will disable any usage of USB storage devices.

If requirements and local site policy allow the use of such devices, other solutions should be configured accordingly instead. One example of a commonly used solution is USBGuard.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/18211

Item Details

References: CSCv7|13.7

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: b0738044d7879e20befdef50e1c9ce6a9b9b1e9dc2bd0e539b236830a28221ad