IBM RACF allocate access to system user catalogs must be properly protected.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-223669	RACF-ES-000210	SV-223669r853575_rule		Medium

Description
To mitigate the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information by entities that have been issued certificates by DoD-approved PKIs, all DoD systems (e.g., web servers and web portals) must be properly configured to incorporate access control methods that do not rely solely on the possession of a certificate for access. Successful authentication must not automatically give an entity access to an asset or security boundary. Authorization procedures and controls must be implemented to ensure each authenticated entity also has a validated and current authorization. Authorization is the process of determining whether an entity, once authenticated, is permitted to access a specific asset. Information systems use access control policies and enforcement mechanisms to implement this requirement. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000080-GPOS-00048, SRG-OS-000324-GPOS-00125

Description

To mitigate the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information by entities that have been issued certificates by DoD-approved PKIs, all DoD systems (e.g., web servers and web portals) must be properly configured to incorporate access control methods that do not rely solely on the possession of a certificate for access. Successful authentication must not automatically give an entity access to an asset or security boundary. Authorization procedures and controls must be implemented to ensure each authenticated entity also has a validated and current authorization. Authorization is the process of determining whether an entity, once authenticated, is permitted to access a specific asset. Information systems use access control policies and enforcement mechanisms to implement this requirement. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000080-GPOS-00048, SRG-OS-000324-GPOS-00125

STIG	Date
IBM z/OS RACF Security Technical Implementation Guide	2022-09-19

Details

Check Text ( C-25342r811007_chk )
From the ISPF Command Shell enter: LISTCat USERCATALOG ALL NOPREFIX Review the ESM data set rules for each usercatalog defined. If the data set rules for User Catalogs do not restrict ALTER access to only z/OS systems programming personnel, this is a finding. If Products or procedures requiring system programmer access for system-level maintenance meets the following specific case, this is not a finding: - 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 data set rules for User Catalogs do not specify that all (i.e., failures and successes) ALTER access will be logged, this 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 data sets UPDATE access is required for user operation.

Check Text ( C-25342r811007_chk )

From the ISPF Command Shell enter:
LISTCat USERCATALOG ALL NOPREFIX

Review the ESM data set rules for each usercatalog defined.

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

If Products or procedures requiring system programmer access for system-level maintenance meets the following specific case, this is not a finding:
- 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 data set rules for User Catalogs do not specify that all (i.e., failures and successes) ALTER access will be logged, this 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 data sets UPDATE access is required for user operation.

Fix Text (F-25330r811008_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 ESM rules for allocate access to USER CATALOGS, limited to system programmers only, and all allocate access is logged. Configure ESM 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 data sets UPDATE access is required for user operation.

Fix Text (F-25330r811008_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 ESM rules for allocate access to USER CATALOGS, limited to system programmers only, and all allocate access is logged.

Configure ESM 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 data sets UPDATE access is required for user operation.