RHEL 9 must check the GPG signature of software packages originating from external software repositories before installation.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-257820	RHEL-09-214015	SV-257820r997053_rule		High

Description
Changes to any software components can have significant effects on the overall security of the operating system. This requirement ensures the software has not been tampered with and that it has been provided by a trusted vendor. All software packages must be signed with a cryptographic key recognized and approved by the organization. Verifying the authenticity of software prior to installation validates the integrity of the software package received from a vendor. This verifies the software has not been tampered with and that it has been provided by a trusted vendor.

Description

Changes to any software components can have significant effects on the overall security of the operating system. This requirement ensures the software has not been tampered with and that it has been provided by a trusted vendor. All software packages must be signed with a cryptographic key recognized and approved by the organization. Verifying the authenticity of software prior to installation validates the integrity of the software package received from a vendor. This verifies the software has not been tampered with and that it has been provided by a trusted vendor.

STIG	Date
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-06-04

Details

Check Text ( C-61561r925445_chk )
Verify that dnf always checks the GPG signature of software packages originating from external software repositories before installation: $ grep gpgcheck /etc/dnf/dnf.conf gpgcheck=1 If "gpgcheck" is not set to "1", or if the option is missing or commented out, ask the system administrator how the GPG signatures of software packages are being verified. If there is no process to verify GPG signatures that is approved by the organization, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-61561r925445_chk )

Verify that dnf always checks the GPG signature of software packages originating from external software repositories before installation:

$ grep gpgcheck /etc/dnf/dnf.conf

gpgcheck=1

If "gpgcheck" is not set to "1", or if the option is missing or commented out, ask the system administrator how the GPG signatures of software packages are being verified.

If there is no process to verify GPG signatures that is approved by the organization, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-61485r925446_fix)
Configure dnf to always check the GPG signature of software packages originating from external software repositories before installation. Add or update the following line in the [main] section of the /etc/dnf/dnf.conf file: gpgcheck=1