Allocate access to system user catalogs must be limited to system programmers only.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-4850	ACP00135	SV-4850r3_rule		Medium

Description
System catalogs are the basis for locating all files on the system. Unauthorized access could result in the compromise of the operating system environment, ACP, and customer data.

STIG	Date
z/OS RACF STIG	2019-12-12

Details

Check Text ( C-829r2_chk )
a) Refer to the following reports produced by the Data Set and Resource Data Collection: - SENSITVE.RPT(CATURPT) - User Catalogs Automated Analysis Refer to the following report produced by the Data Set and Resource Data Collection: - PDI(ACP00135) ___ The ESM data set rules for System Catalogs allow inappropriate access. ___ The ESM data set rules for User Catalogs do not restrict ALTER access / ALTER and SCRATCH (TSS) to only z/OS systems programming personnel. Access greater than “READ” for User Catalog is allowed to a batch job ID in the following specific case: The batch job must reside in a data set that is restricted to systems programmers only. ___ The ESM data set rules for User Catalogs do not specify that all (i.e., failures and successes) ALTER access will be logged. b) If all of the above are untrue, this is not a finding. c) If any of the above is true, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-829r2_chk )

a) Refer to the following reports produced by the Data Set and Resource Data Collection:

- SENSITVE.RPT(CATURPT) - User Catalogs

Automated Analysis
Refer to the following report produced by the Data Set and Resource Data Collection:

- PDI(ACP00135)

___ The ESM data set rules for System Catalogs allow inappropriate access.

___ The ESM data set rules for User Catalogs do not restrict ALTER access / ALTER and SCRATCH (TSS) to only z/OS systems programming personnel.
Access greater than “READ” for User Catalog is allowed to a batch job ID in the following specific case:
The batch job must reside in a data set that is restricted to systems programmers only.

___ The ESM data set rules for User Catalogs do not specify that all (i.e., failures and successes) ALTER access will be logged.

b) If all of the above are untrue, this is not a finding.
c) If any of the above is true, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-17106r2_fix)
Review access authorization to critical system files. Evaluate the impact of correcting the deficiency. Develop a plan of action and implement the changes as required to protect USER CATALOGS. Configure ESM rules for allocate access to USER CATALOGS, limited to system programmers only, and all allocate access is logged. Configure ESM rules for the USER CATALOGS to allow any batch ID access above “READ” only in this specific case: The batch job that requires above “READ” access must reside in a data set that has restricted “ALTER” or equivalent access to systems programmers ONLY.

Fix Text (F-17106r2_fix)

Review access authorization to critical system files.

Evaluate the impact of correcting the deficiency.

Develop a plan of action and implement the changes as required to protect USER CATALOGS.

Configure ESM rules for allocate access to USER CATALOGS, limited to system programmers only, and all allocate access is logged.

Configure ESM rules for the USER CATALOGS to allow any batch ID access above “READ” only in this specific case: The batch job that requires above “READ” access must reside in a data set that has restricted “ALTER” or equivalent access to systems programmers ONLY.