The root user must not own the logon session for an application requiring a continuous display.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-769	GEN000520	SV-37232r1_rule	PESL-1	Medium

Description
If an application is providing a continuous display and is running with root privileges, unauthorized users could interrupt the process and gain root access to the system.

STIG	Date
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2013-01-17

Details

Check Text ( C-35914r1_chk )
If there is an application running on the system continuously in use (such as a network monitoring application), ask the SA what the name of the application is. Verify documentation exists for the requirement and justification of the application. If no documentation exists, this is a finding. Execute "ps -ef \| more" to determine which user owns the process(es) associated with the application. If the owner is root, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-35914r1_chk )

If there is an application running on the system continuously in use (such as a network monitoring application), ask the SA what the name of the application is.
Verify documentation exists for the requirement and justification of the application. If no documentation exists, this is a finding.
Execute "ps -ef | more" to determine which user owns the process(es) associated with the application. If the owner is root, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-31178r1_fix)
Configure the system so the owner of a session requires a continuous screen display, such as a network management display, is not root. Ensure the display is also located in a secure, controlled access area. Document and justify this requirement and ensure the terminal and keyboard for the display (or workstation) are secure from all but authorized personnel by maintaining them in a secure area, in a locked cabinet where a swipe card, or other positive forms of identification, must be used to gain entry.

Fix Text (F-31178r1_fix)

Configure the system so the owner of a session requires a continuous screen display, such as a network management display, is not root. Ensure the display is also located in a secure, controlled access area. Document and justify this requirement and ensure the terminal and keyboard for the display (or workstation) are secure from all but authorized personnel by maintaining them in a secure area, in a locked cabinet where a swipe card, or other positive forms of identification, must be used to gain entry.