The operating system must generate error messages that provide information necessary for corrective actions without revealing information that could be exploited by adversaries.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-203663	SRG-OS-000205-GPOS-00083	SV-203663r557236_rule		Medium

Description
Any operating system providing too much information in error messages risks compromising the data and security of the structure, and content of error messages needs to be carefully considered by the organization. Organizations carefully consider the structure/content of error messages. The extent to which information systems are able to identify and handle error conditions is guided by organizational policy and operational requirements. Information that could be exploited by adversaries includes, for example, erroneous logon attempts with passwords entered by mistake as the username, mission/business information that can be derived from (if not stated explicitly by) information recorded, and personal information, such as account numbers, social security numbers, and credit card numbers.

Description

Any operating system providing too much information in error messages risks compromising the data and security of the structure, and content of error messages needs to be carefully considered by the organization. Organizations carefully consider the structure/content of error messages. The extent to which information systems are able to identify and handle error conditions is guided by organizational policy and operational requirements. Information that could be exploited by adversaries includes, for example, erroneous logon attempts with passwords entered by mistake as the username, mission/business information that can be derived from (if not stated explicitly by) information recorded, and personal information, such as account numbers, social security numbers, and credit card numbers.

STIG	Date
General Purpose Operating System Security Requirements Guide	2023-05-17

Details

Check Text ( C-3788r557234_chk )
Verify the operating system generates error messages that provide information necessary for corrective actions without revealing information that could be exploited by adversaries. If it does not, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-3788r557235_fix)
Configure the operating system to generate error messages that provide information necessary for corrective actions without revealing information that could be exploited by adversaries.