The Palo Alto Networks security platform must compare internal information system clocks at least every 24 hours with an authoritative time server.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-228663	PANW-NM-000098	SV-228663r856009_rule		Low

Description
Inaccurate time stamps make it more difficult to correlate events and can lead to an inaccurate analysis. Determining the correct time a particular event occurred on a system is critical when conducting forensic analysis and investigating system events. Synchronizing internal information system clocks provides uniformity of time stamps for information systems with multiple system clocks and systems connected over a network. Network Time Protocol (NTP) is used to synchronize the system clock of a computer to reference time source. The Palo Alto Networks security platform can be configured to use specified Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers. For synchronization with the NTP server(s), NTP uses a minimum polling value of 64 seconds and a maximum polling value of 1024 seconds. These minimum and maximum polling values are not configurable on the firewall.

Description

Inaccurate time stamps make it more difficult to correlate events and can lead to an inaccurate analysis. Determining the correct time a particular event occurred on a system is critical when conducting forensic analysis and investigating system events. Synchronizing internal information system clocks provides uniformity of time stamps for information systems with multiple system clocks and systems connected over a network. Network Time Protocol (NTP) is used to synchronize the system clock of a computer to reference time source. The Palo Alto Networks security platform can be configured to use specified Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers. For synchronization with the NTP server(s), NTP uses a minimum polling value of 64 seconds and a maximum polling value of 1024 seconds. These minimum and maximum polling values are not configurable on the firewall.

STIG	Date
Palo Alto Networks NDM Security Technical Implementation Guide	2022-09-14

Details

Check Text ( C-30898r513592_chk )
Go to Device >> Setup >> Services In the "Services" window, the names or IP addresses of the Primary NTP Server and Secondary NTP Server must be present. If the "Primary NTP Server" and "Secondary NTP Server" fields are blank, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-30875r513593_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 NTP tab, 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: Symmetric Key; this option uses symmetric key exchange, which are shared secrets. Enter the key ID, algorithm, authentication key, and confirm the authentication key; for the algorithm, select "SHA1". 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-30875r513593_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 NTP tab, 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:
Symmetric Key; this option uses symmetric key exchange, which are shared secrets. Enter the key ID, algorithm, authentication key, and confirm the authentication key; for the algorithm, select "SHA1".
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.