ALMA-09-031040 - A graphical display manager must not be installed on AlmaLinux OS 9 unless approved.

Information

Unnecessary service packages must not be installed to decrease the attack surface of the system. Graphical display managers have a long history of security vulnerabilities and must not be used, unless approved and documented.

Solution

Document the requirement for a graphical user interface with the ISSO or remove all xorg packages with the following command:

Warning: If accessing the system through the graphical user interface, change to the multi-user.target with the following command:

$ systemctl isolate multi-user.target

Warning: Removal of the graphical user interface will immediately render it useless. The following commands must not be run from a virtual terminal emulator in the graphical interface.

$ dnf remove "xorg*"
$ systemctl set-default multi-user.target

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_CL_AlmaLinux_OS_9_V1R5_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

References: 800-53|CM-7a., CAT|II, CCI|CCI-000381, Rule-ID|SV-269354r1050237_rule, STIG-ID|ALMA-09-031040, Vuln-ID|V-269354

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: d2856b2cd074b1656ee97c7ca4530f5164c9c4f0085c424338d018c8dceb6b6d