The Cisco switch must authenticate all endpoint devices before establishing any connection.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-220654	CISC-L2-000080	SV-220654r539671_rule		Medium

Description

Without authenticating devices, unidentified or unknown devices may be introduced, thereby facilitating malicious activity. For distributed architectures (e.g., service-oriented architectures), the decisions regarding the validation of authentication claims may be made by services separate from the services acting on those decisions. In such situations, it is necessary to provide authentication decisions (as opposed to the actual authenticators) to the services that need to act on those decisions. This requirement applies to applications that connect either locally, remotely, or through a network to an endpoint device (including, but not limited to, workstations, printers, servers (outside a datacenter), VoIP Phones, and VTC CODECs). Gateways and SOA applications are examples of where this requirement would apply. Device authentication is a solution enabling an organization to manage devices. It is an additional layer of authentication ensuring only specific pre-authorized devices can access the system.

STIG	Date
Cisco IOS XE Switch L2S Security Technical Implementation Guide	2021-09-09

Details

Check Text ( C-22369r507510_chk )

Verify if the switch configuration has 802.1x authentication implemented for all access switch ports connecting to LAN outlets (i.e., RJ-45 wall plates) or devices not located in the telecom room, wiring closets, or equipment rooms. MAC Authentication Bypass (MAB) must be configured on those switch ports connected to devices that do not provide an 802.1x supplicant. Step 1: Verify that 802.1x is configured on all host-facing interfaces as shown in the example below: interface GigabitEthernet1/0 switchport access vlan 12 switchport mode access authentication port-control auto dot1x pae authenticator ! interface GigabitEthernet1/1 switchport access vlan 13 switchport mode access authentication port-control auto dot1x pae authenticator ! interface GigabitEthernet1/2 switchport access vlan 13 switchport mode access authentication port-control auto dot1x pae authenticator Step 2: Verify that 802.1x authentication is configured on the switch as shown in the example below: aaa new-model ! ! aaa group server radius RADIUS_SERVERS server name RADIUS_1 server name RADIUS_2 ! aaa authentication dot1x default group RADIUS_SERVERS … … … dot1x system-auth-control Step 3: Verify that the radius servers have been defined. SW1#show radius server-group RADIUS_SERVERS Note: Single-host is the default. Host-mode multi-domain (for VoIP phone + PC) or multi-auth (multiple PCs connected to a hub) can be configured as alternatives. Host-mode multi-host is not compliant with this requirement. If 802.1x authentication or MAB is not on configured on all access switch ports connecting to LAN outlets or devices not located in the telecom room, wiring closets, or equipment rooms, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-22358r507511_fix)

Configure 802.1 x authentications on all host-facing access switch ports. To authenticate those devices that do not support 802.1x, MAC Authentication Bypass must be configured. Step 1: Configure the radius servers as shown in the example below: SW1(config)#radius server RADIUS_1 SW1(config-radius-server)#address ipv4 10.1.22.3 SW1(config-radius-server)#key xxxxxx SW1(config-radius-server)#exit SW1(config)#radius server RADIUS_2 SW1(config-radius-server)#address ipv4 10.1.14.5 SW1(config-radius-server)#key xxxxxx SW1(config-radius-server)#exit Step 2: Enable 802.1x authentication on the switch. SW1(config)#aaa new-model SW1(config)#aaa group server radius RADIUS_SERVERS SW1(config-sg-radius)#server name RADIUS_1 SW1(config-sg-radius)#server name RADIUS_2 SW1(config-sg-radius)#exit SW1(config)#aaa authentication dot1x default group RADIUS_SERVERS SW1(config)#dot1x system-auth-control Step 3: Enable 802.1x on all host-facing interfaces as shown in the example below: SW1(config)#int range g1/0 - 8 SW1(config-if-range)#switchport mode access SW1(config-if-range)#authentication host-mode single-host SW1(config-if-range)#dot1x pae authenticator SW1(config-if-range)#authentication port-control auto SW1(config-if-range)#end Note: Single-host is the default. Host-mode multi-domain (for VoIP phone + PC) or multi-auth (multiple PCs connected to a hub) can be configured as alternatives.