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The root account must not be used for direct log in.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-11979 GEN001020 SV-44915r1_rule ECPA-1 Medium
Description
Direct login with the root account prevents individual user accountability. Acceptable non-routine uses of the root account for direct login are limited to emergency maintenance, the use of single-user mode for maintenance, and situations where individual administrator accounts are not available.
STIG Date
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server v11 for System z 2015-01-26

Details

Check Text ( C-42356r1_chk )
Check if the root is used for direct logins.

Procedure:
# last root | grep -v reboot

If any direct login records for root exist, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-38347r1_fix)
Enforce policy requiring all root account access is attained by first logging into a user account and then becoming root preferably through the use of "sudo" which provides traceability to the command level. If that is not workable then using "su" to access the root account will provide traceability to the login user.