VMware Postgres must provide nonprivileged users with minimal error information.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-256606	VCPG-70-000016	SV-256606r887604_rule		Medium

Description
Any database management system (DBMS) or associated application providing too much information in error messages on the screen or printout risks compromising the data and security of the system. The structure and content of error messages must contain the minimal amount of information. Databases can inadvertently provide a wealth of information to an attacker through improperly handled error messages. In addition to sensitive business or personal information, database errors can provide host names, IP addresses, user names, and other system information not required for troubleshooting but very useful to someone targeting the system. Satisfies: SRG-APP-000266-DB-000162, SRG-APP-000267-DB-000163

Description

Any database management system (DBMS) or associated application providing too much information in error messages on the screen or printout risks compromising the data and security of the system. The structure and content of error messages must contain the minimal amount of information. Databases can inadvertently provide a wealth of information to an attacker through improperly handled error messages. In addition to sensitive business or personal information, database errors can provide host names, IP addresses, user names, and other system information not required for troubleshooting but very useful to someone targeting the system. Satisfies: SRG-APP-000266-DB-000162, SRG-APP-000267-DB-000163

STIG	Date
VMware vSphere 7.0 vCenter Appliance PostgreSQL Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-06-15

Details

Check Text ( C-60281r887602_chk )
At the command prompt, run the following command: # /opt/vmware/vpostgres/current/bin/psql -U postgres -A -t -c "SHOW client_min_messages;" Expected result: notice If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-60224r887603_fix)
At the command prompt, run the following commands: # /opt/vmware/vpostgres/current/bin/psql -U postgres -c "ALTER SYSTEM SET client_min_messages TO 'notice';" # /opt/vmware/vpostgres/current/bin/psql -U postgres -c "SELECT pg_reload_conf();"