CA-ACF2 allocate access to system user catalogs must be properly protected.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-223435	ACF2-ES-000140	SV-223435r918579_rule		Medium

Description
Access control policies include: identity-based policies, role-based policies, and attribute-based policies. Access enforcement mechanisms include: access control lists, access control matrices, and cryptography. These policies and mechanisms must be employed by the application to control access between users (or processes acting on behalf of users) and objects (e.g., devices, files, records, processes, programs, and domains) in the information system.

Description

Access control policies include: identity-based policies, role-based policies, and attribute-based policies. Access enforcement mechanisms include: access control lists, access control matrices, and cryptography. These policies and mechanisms must be employed by the application to control access between users (or processes acting on behalf of users) and objects (e.g., devices, files, records, processes, programs, and domains) in the information system.

STIG	Date
IBM z/OS ACF2 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-12-18

Details

Check Text ( C-25108r918577_chk )
From the ISPF Command Shell, enter: LISTCat USERCATALOG NAME NOPREFIX Review the ACF2 data set rules for each usercatalog defined. If the data set rules for User Catalogs do not restrict ALLOCATE access to only z/OS systems programming personnel, this is a finding. If products or procedures requiring system programmer access for system-level maintenance meet the following specific case: - The batch job or procedure must be documented in the SITE Security Plan. - Reside in a data set that is restricted to systems programmers' access only. If the above is true, this is not a finding. If the data set rules for User Catalogs do not specify that all (i.e., failures and successes) ALLOCATE access will be logged, this is a finding. Note: If the USER CATALOGS contain SMS managed data sets, READ access is sufficient to allow user operations. If the USER CATALOGS do not contain SMS managed datasets, WRITE access is required for user operation.

Check Text ( C-25108r918577_chk )

From the ISPF Command Shell, enter:
LISTCat USERCATALOG NAME NOPREFIX

Review the ACF2 data set rules for each usercatalog defined.

If the data set rules for User Catalogs do not restrict ALLOCATE access to only z/OS systems programming personnel, this is a finding.

If products or procedures requiring system programmer access for system-level maintenance meet the following specific case:
- The batch job or procedure must be documented in the SITE Security Plan.
- Reside in a data set that is restricted to systems programmers' access only.

If the above is true, this is not a finding.

If the data set rules for User Catalogs do not specify that all (i.e., failures and successes) ALLOCATE access will be logged, this is a finding.

Note: If the USER CATALOGS contain SMS managed data sets, READ access is sufficient to allow user operations. If the USER CATALOGS do not contain SMS managed datasets, WRITE access is required for user operation.

Fix Text (F-25096r918578_fix)
Review access authorization to critical system files. Evaluate the impact of correcting the deficiency. Develop a plan of action and implement the changes as required to protect USER CATALOGS. Configure ACF2 rules for allocate access to USER CATALOGS, limited to system programmers only, and all allocate access is logged. Configure ACF2 rules for the USER CATALOGS to allow any Products or procedures system programmer access for system-level maintenance that meets the following specific case: - The batch job or procedure must be documented in the SITE Security Plan. - Reside in a data set that is restricted to systems programmers' access only. Note: If the USER CATALOGS contain SMS managed data sets READ access is sufficient to allow user operations. If the USER CATALOGS do not contain SMS managed datasets WRITE access is required for user operation.

Fix Text (F-25096r918578_fix)

Review access authorization to critical system files. Evaluate the impact of correcting the deficiency. Develop a plan of action and implement the changes as required to protect USER CATALOGS.

Configure ACF2 rules for allocate access to USER CATALOGS, limited to system programmers only, and all allocate access is logged.

Configure ACF2 rules for the USER CATALOGS to allow any Products or procedures system programmer access for system-level maintenance that meets the following specific case:
- The batch job or procedure must be documented in the SITE Security Plan.
- Reside in a data set that is restricted to systems programmers' access only.

Note: If the USER CATALOGS contain SMS managed data sets READ access is sufficient to allow user operations. If the USER CATALOGS do not contain SMS managed datasets WRITE access is required for user operation.