# Ubuntu24 Stig

> Apply and audit DISA STIG V1R1 for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS on AWS EC2 — OpenSCAP scanning with the correct benchmark IDs, idempotent shell remediation for MAC-2_Sensitive/Public profiles, auditd rule generation, SSH FIPS 140-3 hardening, PAM lockout and pwquality, AIDE integrity monitoring, and AWS-specific skip logic. Use this skill whenever the user mentions Ubuntu 24.04 STIG hardening, OpenSCAP, SCAP scanning, DISA compliance, auditd rules, FIPS 140-3 on SSH, PAM lockout, AIDE, or any specific STIG rule ID (SV-270xxx) — even if they just say "harden this server" or "failed a compliance scan" in an Ubuntu 24.04 context.

- Skill: `andreab67/ubuntu24-stig` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add andreab67/ubuntu24-stig`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/andreab67/ubuntu24-stig/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: DevOps & Infra
- Author: andreab67 (https://skillmd.com/u/andreab67)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/andreab67/ubuntu24-stig

---


# ubuntu24-stig

DISA STIG V1R1 hardening for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS on AWS EC2. Covers OpenSCAP scanning, idempotent shell remediation for MAC-2_Sensitive, and a catalogue of the most common failures with their exact fixes.

## When to use

- Running an OpenSCAP SCAP scan with `U_CAN_Ubuntu_24-04_LTS_V1R1_STIG_SCAP_1-3_Benchmark.xml`
- Applying MAC-2_Sensitive or MAC-2_Public remediation via shell script
- Fixing individual failing STIG rules (auditd, SSH, PAM, AIDE, sysctl)
- Reviewing a scan result and explaining what each `fail` means
- Preparing an AWS EC2 instance for a STIG compliance audit

Do NOT use for:
- Ubuntu 22.04 (different STIG benchmark — use U_CAN_Ubuntu_22-04_LTS V1R2)
- Non-Ubuntu distros (RHEL, Amazon Linux have separate benchmarks)
- Graphical workstation hardening (most GUI rules are `notapplicable` on headless EC2)

---

## Step 1 — Download the STIG benchmark

Official source: **https://public.cyber.mil/stigs/downloads/**  
Search: `Ubuntu 24.04`  
File: `U_CAN_Ubuntu_24-04_LTS_V1R1_STIG_SCAP_1-3_Benchmark.zip`  
Extract: `U_CAN_Ubuntu_24-04_LTS_V1R1_STIG_SCAP_1-3_Benchmark.xml`

Place at: `/opt/stig/U_CAN_Ubuntu_24-04_LTS_V1R1_STIG_SCAP_1-3_Benchmark.xml`

---

## Step 2 — Install OpenSCAP (Ubuntu 24.04 package names)

```bash
apt-get update
apt-get install -y openscap-scanner openscap-common bzip2
```

> **Ubuntu 24.04 package change**: `libopenscap8` was replaced by `libopenscap25t64`. Use `openscap-scanner` — it pulls the correct library automatically. Do NOT install `libopenscap8`.

---

## Step 3 — Correct SCAP benchmark IDs

The IDs in the XML for V1R1 are:

| Parameter | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| `--datastream-id` | `scap_mil.disa.stig_datastream_U_CAN_Ubuntu_24-04_LTS_V1R1_STIG_SCAP_1-3_Benchmark` |
| `--xccdf-id` | `xccdf_mil.disa.stig_benchmark_CAN_Ubuntu_24-04_LTS_STIG` |
| Profile (MAC-2 Sensitive) | `xccdf_mil.disa.stig_profile_MAC-2_Sensitive` |
| Profile (MAC-2 Public) | `xccdf_mil.disa.stig_profile_MAC-2_Public` |

> **Common error**: Using `xccdf_mil.disa.stig_benchmark_CAN_Ubuntu_24-04_STIG` (missing `_LTS`) causes  
> `Failed to locate a datastream` — always include `_LTS_` in the benchmark ID.

Verify IDs from the file:
```bash
grep -o 'id="[^"]*benchmark[^"]*"' /opt/stig/U_CAN_Ubuntu_24-04_LTS_V1R1_STIG_SCAP_1-3_Benchmark.xml | head -5
```

---

## Step 4 — Run a scan

```bash
BENCHMARK=/opt/stig/U_CAN_Ubuntu_24-04_LTS_V1R1_STIG_SCAP_1-3_Benchmark.xml
PROFILE=xccdf_mil.disa.stig_profile_MAC-2_Sensitive
OUTDIR=/var/log/stig

mkdir -p "$OUTDIR"

oscap xccdf eval \
  --datastream-id scap_mil.disa.stig_datastream_U_CAN_Ubuntu_24-04_LTS_V1R1_STIG_SCAP_1-3_Benchmark \
  --xccdf-id xccdf_mil.disa.stig_benchmark_CAN_Ubuntu_24-04_LTS_STIG \
  --profile "$PROFILE" \
  --results "$OUTDIR/results.xml" \
  --report  "$OUTDIR/report.html" \
  "$BENCHMARK" || true   # exit code 2 = findings present, not a script error

echo "Report: $OUTDIR/report.html"
```

---

## Step 5 — Remediation script

See `remediate-mac2-sensitive.sh` in this skill directory.  
Run as root on a **snapshot/AMI first** — this changes system configuration.

```bash
chmod +x remediate-mac2-sensitive.sh
sudo ./remediate-mac2-sensitive.sh 2>&1 | tee /var/log/stig-remediation.log
```

---

## AWS EC2 skip list

The following rules are `notapplicable` or impractical on headless EC2 and are skipped by the script:

| Rule | Reason skipped |
|------|---------------|
| SV-270692 (graphical logon banner) | No desktop environment |
| SV-270674 (session lock) | No GUI screen locker |
| SV-270675 (single-user auth / GRUB password) | AWS console manages boot; GRUB lockout breaks recovery |
| SV-270721/722 (smartcard SSH) | PIV/CAC not used on EC2 |
| SV-270672/673 (PIV credentials) | No smartcard reader |
| SV-270736/737/738 (PKI cert path validation) | OCSP infra N/A |

---

## Top failure categories and fixes

### auditd not installed (SV-270656, SV-270657)
```bash
apt-get install -y auditd audispd-plugins
systemctl enable --now auditd
```

### AIDE integrity monitoring (SV-270649, SV-270652)
```bash
apt-get install -y aide aide-common
aideinit
mv /var/lib/aide/aide.db.new /var/lib/aide/aide.db
# Cron check:
echo "0 5 * * * root /usr/bin/aide --check | mail -s 'AIDE report' root" > /etc/cron.d/aide
```

### SSH FIPS 140-3 ciphers (SV-270667 to SV-270671)
```bash
cat >> /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/99-stig-fips.conf << 'EOF'
Ciphers aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-gcm@openssh.com,aes256-gcm@openssh.com
MACs hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-512-etm@openssh.com
KexAlgorithms ecdh-sha2-nistp256,ecdh-sha2-nistp384,ecdh-sha2-nistp521,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256
X11Forwarding no
X11UseLocalhost yes
PrintLastLog yes
PermitEmptyPasswords no
PermitUserEnvironment no
ClientAliveInterval 600
ClientAliveCountMax 0
EOF
systemctl restart sshd
```

### SSH client FIPS (SV-270670, SV-270671)
```bash
cat >> /etc/ssh/ssh_config.d/99-stig-fips.conf << 'EOF'
Ciphers aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-gcm@openssh.com,aes256-gcm@openssh.com
MACs hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-512-etm@openssh.com
EOF
```

### PAM pwquality (SV-270704, SV-270705, SV-270726–270733)
```bash
apt-get install -y libpam-pwquality
cat > /etc/security/pwquality.conf << 'EOF'
minlen = 15
ucredit = -1
lcredit = -1
dcredit = -1
ocredit = -1
difok = 8
dictcheck = 1
EOF
```

### PAM lockout after 3 attempts (SV-270690)
```bash
cat > /etc/security/faillock.conf << 'EOF'
deny = 3
unlock_time = 0
fail_interval = 900
EOF
```

### Password aging (SV-270730, SV-270731)
```bash
sed -i 's/^PASS_MAX_DAYS.*/PASS_MAX_DAYS   60/' /etc/login.defs
sed -i 's/^PASS_MIN_DAYS.*/PASS_MIN_DAYS   1/'  /etc/login.defs
```

### Concurrent sessions limit (SV-270677)
```bash
echo "* hard maxlogins 10" >> /etc/security/limits.d/99-stig.conf
```

### Session inactivity timeout (SV-270680)
```bash
cat > /etc/profile.d/99-stig-tmout.sh << 'EOF'
TMOUT=600
readonly TMOUT
export TMOUT
EOF
```

### Disable Ctrl-Alt-Delete (SV-270712)
```bash
systemctl mask ctrl-alt-del.target
systemctl daemon-reload
```

### Disable USB mass storage (SV-270718)
```bash
echo "install usb-storage /bin/true" > /etc/modprobe.d/disable-usb-storage.conf
```

### Kernel sysctl hardening (SV-270749, SV-270753)
```bash
cat >> /etc/sysctl.d/99-stig.conf << 'EOF'
kernel.dmesg_restrict = 1
net.ipv4.tcp_syncookies = 1
EOF
sysctl --system
```

### APT autoremove (SV-270773)
```bash
apt-get -y autoremove
echo 'APT::Get::AutomaticRemove "true";' > /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/99autoremove
```

### Audit config file permissions (SV-270775, 270776, 270777)
```bash
chmod 640 /etc/audit/audit.rules /etc/audit/auditd.conf /etc/audit/rules.d/*.rules 2>/dev/null || true
chown root:root /etc/audit/audit.rules /etc/audit/auditd.conf 2>/dev/null || true
```

### journalctl permissions (SV-270758)
```bash
chmod 0750 /usr/bin/journalctl
```

### Direct root login (SV-270724)
```bash
passwd -l root
```

### FIPS mode (SV-270744)
```bash
# CAUTION: on AWS this may break instance connectivity — test on non-production first
apt-get install -y ubuntu-advantage-tools
# ua enable fips-updates  # Requires Ubuntu Pro subscription
```

---

## Audit rules (abridged)

The remediation script generates the full `/etc/audit/rules.d/99-stig.rules`. Key groups:

```bash
# Identity files
-w /etc/passwd  -p wa -k identity
-w /etc/group   -p wa -k identity
-w /etc/shadow  -p wa -k identity
-w /etc/gshadow -p wa -k identity
-w /etc/opasswd -p wa -k identity

# Privilege escalation
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S execve -C uid!=euid -F euid=0 -k setuid
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S execve -C gid!=egid -F egid=0 -k setgid

# Sudoers
-w /etc/sudoers         -p wa -k sudoers
-w /etc/sudoers.d/      -p wa -k sudoers

# Module loading
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S init_module,finit_module -k modules
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S delete_module -k modules

# File attribute changes
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S setxattr,fsetxattr,lsetxattr,removexattr,fremovexattr,lremovexattr -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S chown,fchown,fchownat,lchown -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S chmod,fchmod,fchmodat -k perm_mod

# File access
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S creat,open,openat,open_by_handle_at,truncate,ftruncate -F exit=-EACCES -k access
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S creat,open,openat,open_by_handle_at,truncate,ftruncate -F exit=-EPERM  -k access

# Privileged commands (full list in remediation script)
-a always,exit -F path=/usr/bin/sudo  -F perm=x -k privileged
-a always,exit -F path=/usr/bin/su    -F perm=x -k privileged
-a always,exit -F path=/bin/mount     -F perm=x -k privileged
```

## Anti-patterns

These look like valid hardening moves but will break your instance or produce false-clean scans:

1. **Enabling FIPS mode on a running production EC2 instance without a snapshot** — `ubuntu-advantage-tools` FIPS enablement reboots the kernel with FIPS-validated modules. On AWS, if the instance's kernel or init system has dependencies that are absent in FIPS mode, the instance will not come back up. Always snapshot before enabling, and test on a non-production instance first.
2. **Using the `U_CAN_Ubuntu_24-04_LTS_V1R1` benchmark ID without the full `_SCAP_1-3_` path** — the SCAP content inside the zip contains multiple component files; passing just the outer zip filename or a truncated path causes `--datastream-id` lookups to fail silently with a generic `Failed to locate a datastream` error rather than a helpful message.
3. **Running OpenSCAP scan results as the root pass/fail truth without reviewing `notapplicable` rules** — by default OpenSCAP counts `notapplicable` rules as neutral. On a headless AWS EC2, rules about GUI, removable media, and physical console will all be `notapplicable` — your real posture score is among `fail` rules only. Filter the report accordingly.
4. **Applying `chmod 0750 /usr/bin/journalctl` before confirming no monitoring agents use it as a non-root user** — this blocks any non-root service (Prometheus node_exporter, Loki Promtail, CloudWatch Agent) from reading journal logs. Fix the permissions on the agent's user first, then apply the STIG rule.
5. **Configuring `pam_faillock` lockout without a console or SSM fallback** — if you set `deny=3` and the lockout fires on `root` or `ubuntu`, you can be permanently locked out of a remote-only instance. Confirm AWS Systems Manager Session Manager is configured and tested before applying PAM lockout rules.
6. **Generating AIDE database after the OS is already modified** — AIDE's integrity baseline must be generated on a known-good clean state. Running `aide --init` after applying STIG remediations but before rebooting or before packages are fully settled will bake transient state into the baseline, causing false positives on every subsequent check.
7. **Applying audit rules with `auditctl -R` without reloading `auditd`** — `auditctl -R file` loads rules for the current session only; they're lost on reboot. Rules must be placed in `/etc/audit/rules.d/*.rules` and loaded with `service auditd restart` (or equivalent) to survive reboots and pass the STIG check.

## Example prompts

- *"How do I run an OpenSCAP SCAP scan on Ubuntu 24.04 with the DISA STIG benchmark?"*
- *"My scan fails with `Failed to locate a datastream`. What's the correct benchmark ID?"*
- *"STIG rule SV-270690 failed — how do I configure PAM lockout after 3 failed attempts?"*
- *"Which STIG rules should I skip on an AWS EC2 headless instance?"*
- *"Show me how to configure SSH FIPS 140-3 ciphers for Ubuntu 24.04."*
- *"Walk me through setting up AIDE integrity monitoring with a daily cron check."*
- *"I need to pass a DISA STIG audit next week for our EC2 fleet. What do I run first?"*

## Related skills

- [`postgres-ops`](./postgres-ops/SKILL.md) — STIG hardening for the PostgreSQL layer on this server
- [`arcgis-enterprise-k8s`](./arcgis-enterprise-k8s/SKILL.md) — OS hardening context for ArcGIS worker nodes