The Palo Alto Networks security platform must be configured to synchronize internal information system clocks with the primary and secondary time sources located in different geographic regions using redundant authoritative time sources.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-62757	PANW-NM-000100	SV-77247r1_rule		Medium

Description
The loss of connectivity to a particular authoritative time source will result in the loss of time synchronization (free-run mode) and increasingly inaccurate time stamps on audit events and other functions. Multiple time sources provide redundancy by including a secondary source. Time synchronization is usually a hierarchy; clients synchronize time to a local source while that source synchronizes its time to a more accurate source. DoD-approved solutions consist of a combination of a primary and secondary time source using a combination or multiple instances of the following: a time server designated for the appropriate DoD network (NIPRNet/SIPRNet); United States Naval Observatory (USNO) time servers; and/or the Global Positioning System (GPS). The secondary time source must be located in a different geographic region from the primary time source.

Description

The loss of connectivity to a particular authoritative time source will result in the loss of time synchronization (free-run mode) and increasingly inaccurate time stamps on audit events and other functions. Multiple time sources provide redundancy by including a secondary source. Time synchronization is usually a hierarchy; clients synchronize time to a local source while that source synchronizes its time to a more accurate source. DoD-approved solutions consist of a combination of a primary and secondary time source using a combination or multiple instances of the following: a time server designated for the appropriate DoD network (NIPRNet/SIPRNet); United States Naval Observatory (USNO) time servers; and/or the Global Positioning System (GPS). The secondary time source must be located in a different geographic region from the primary time source.

STIG	Date
Palo Alto Networks NDM Security Technical Implementation Guide	2015-11-06

Details

Check Text ( C-63565r1_chk )
Go to Device >> Setup >> Services If there is only one NTP Server configured, this is a finding. Ask the firewall administrator where the Primary NTP Server and Secondary NTP Server are located; if they are not in different geographic regions, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-68677r1_fix)
Go to Device >> Setup >> Services Select the "Edit" icon (the gear symbol in the upper-right corner of the pane). In the "Services" window, in the "Primary NTP Server Address" field and the "Secondary NTP Server Address" field, enter the IP address or hostname of the NTP servers. In the "Authentication Type" field, select one of the following: None (default); this option disables NTP authentication. Symmetric Key; this option uses symmetric key exchange, which are shared secrets. Enter the key ID, algorithm, authentication key, and confirm the authentication key. Autokey; this option uses auto key, or public key cryptography. Commit changes by selecting "Commit" in the upper-right corner of the screen. Select "OK" when the confirmation dialog appears.

Fix Text (F-68677r1_fix)

Go to Device >> Setup >> Services
Select the "Edit" icon (the gear symbol in the upper-right corner of the pane).
In the "Services" window, in the "Primary NTP Server Address" field and the "Secondary NTP Server Address" field, enter the IP address or hostname of the NTP servers.

In the "Authentication Type" field, select one of the following:
None (default); this option disables NTP authentication.
Symmetric Key; this option uses symmetric key exchange, which are shared secrets. Enter the key ID, algorithm, authentication key, and confirm the authentication key.
Autokey; this option uses auto key, or public key cryptography.
Commit changes by selecting "Commit" in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Select "OK" when the confirmation dialog appears.