The Palo Alto Networks security platform providing encryption intermediary services must implement NIST FIPS-validated cryptography to generate cryptographic hashes.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-62633	PANW-AG-000141	SV-77123r2_rule		Medium

Description
Use of weak or untested encryption algorithms undermines the purposes of utilizing encryption to protect data. The network element must implement cryptographic modules adhering to the higher standards approved by the federal government since this provides assurance they have been tested and validated.

STIG	Date
Palo Alto Networks ALG Security Technical Implementation Guide	2016-06-30

Details

Check Text ( C-63437r3_chk )
If the Palo Alto Networks security platform does not provide encryption intermediary services (e.g., HTTPS or TLS), this is not applicable. For PAN OS 6.1, enter the command "show fips-mode"; if the response is "off", this is a finding unless the device is in CC mode. For PAN OS 6.1 and PAN OS 7.0.1 and later, when in CC mode, the CLI and the GUI login screen will display “CCEAL4 MODE ENABLED” and the GUI will display “CC” in the lower right hand corner. If these are present, this is not a finding. Alternately, use the command line interface to determine if the device is operating in Common Criteria mode. Enter the command “show operational-mode”; if the response is not “CC”, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-63437r3_chk )

If the Palo Alto Networks security platform does not provide encryption intermediary services (e.g., HTTPS or TLS), this is not applicable.

For PAN OS 6.1, enter the command "show fips-mode"; if the response is "off", this is a finding unless the device is in CC mode.

For PAN OS 6.1 and PAN OS 7.0.1 and later, when in CC mode, the CLI and the GUI login screen will display “CCEAL4 MODE ENABLED” and the GUI will display “CC” in the lower right hand corner. If these are present, this is not a finding.
Alternately, use the command line interface to determine if the device is operating in Common Criteria mode. Enter the command “show operational-mode”; if the response is not “CC”, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-68553r4_fix)
To configure the Palo Alto Networks security platform to operate in FIPS mode: Power off the device by unplugging it from the electrical outlet. Connect a console cable from the console port to a computer serial port, and use a terminal program to connect to the Palo Alto Networks device. The serial parameters are 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit. A USB to serial adapter will be necessary if the computer does not have a serial port. During the boot sequence, this message will appear: "Autoboot to default partition in 5 seconds". Enter "maint" to enter maintenance mode. Press "Enter", and the Maintenance Recovery Tool menu will appear. Select "Set FIPS Mode" from the menu; once the device has finished rebooting, it will be in FIPS mode. The procedure for enabling CC mode is similar; however, select "Set CCEAL4 Mode" from the menu. When the mode change is complete, the device will report the status as “Success”. After this is complete, it is necessary to reboot the device. Note: This will remove all installed licenses and disable the serial port.

Fix Text (F-68553r4_fix)

To configure the Palo Alto Networks security platform to operate in FIPS mode:
Power off the device by unplugging it from the electrical outlet.
Connect a console cable from the console port to a computer serial port, and use a terminal program to connect to the Palo Alto Networks device.
The serial parameters are 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit.
A USB to serial adapter will be necessary if the computer does not have a serial port.

During the boot sequence, this message will appear:
"Autoboot to default partition in 5 seconds".
Enter "maint" to enter maintenance mode.
Press "Enter", and the Maintenance Recovery Tool menu will appear.
Select "Set FIPS Mode" from the menu; once the device has finished rebooting, it will be in FIPS mode. The procedure for enabling CC mode is similar; however, select "Set CCEAL4 Mode" from the menu.

When the mode change is complete, the device will report the status as “Success”. After this is complete, it is necessary to reboot the device.

Note: This will remove all installed licenses and disable the serial port.