1.4.3 Ensure authentication required for single user mode

Information

Single user mode is used for recovery when the system detects an issue during boot or by manual selection from the bootloader.

Rationale:

Requiring authentication in single user mode prevents an unauthorized user from rebooting the system into single user to gain root privileges without credentials.

Solution

Edit /etc/inittab and set ~~:S:respawn to ' /sbin/sulogin ':

~~:S:respawn:/sbin/sulogin

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/3738