Cis Ubuntu2004 V300 4 1 1

CIS Ubuntu Linux 20.04 LTS Benchmark v3.0.0 - Control 4.1.1

Profile

• Level: Level 1 - Server, Level 1 - Workstation
• Assessment Status: Automated

Description

In Linux security, employing a single, effective firewall configuration utility ensures that only legitimate traffic gets processed, reducing the system's exposure to potential threats. The choice between ufw, nftables, and iptables depends on organizational needs.

Note: iptables is being phased out, and support for iptables will be reduced over time. It is recommended to transition towards either nftables or ufw as the default firewall management tool.

Rationale

Proper configuration of a single firewall utility minimizes cyber threats and protects services and data, while avoiding vulnerabilities like open ports or exposed services. Standardizing on a single tool simplifies management, reduces errors, and fortifies security across Linux systems.

Impact

The use of more than one firewall utility may produce unexpected results.

Audit Procedure

Command Line

Run the following script to verify that a single firewall utility is in use on the system:

#!/usr/bin/env bash

{
  active_firewall=() firewalls=("ufw" "nftables" "iptables")
  # Determine which firewall is in use
  for firewall in "${firewalls[@]}"; do
    case $firewall in
      nftables)
        cmd="nft" ;;
      *)
        cmd=$firewall ;;
    esac
    if command -v $cmd &> /dev/null && systemctl is-enabled --quiet $firewall && systemctl is-active --quiet $firewall; then
      active_firewall+=("$firewall")
    fi
  done
  # Display audit results
  if [ ${#active_firewall[@]} -eq 1 ]; then
    printf '%s\n' "" " Audit Results:" " ** PASS **" " - A single firewall is in use follow the recommendation in ${active_firewall[0]} subsection ONLY"
  elif [ ${#active_firewall[@]} -eq 0 ]; then
    printf '%s\n' "" " Audit Results:" " ** FAIL **" "- No firewall in use or unable to determine firewall status"
  else
    printf '%s\n' "" " Audit Results:" " ** FAIL **" " - Multiple firewalls are in use: ${active_firewall[*]}"
  fi
}

Expected Result

Audit Results:
 ** PASS ** - A single firewall is in use follow the recommendation in <firewall> subsection ONLY

Remediation

Command Line

Remediating to a single firewall configuration is a complex process and involves several steps. The following provides the basic steps to follow for a single firewall configuration:

1. Determine which firewall utility best fits organizational needs
2. Follow the recommendations in the subsequent subsection for the single firewall to be used Note: Review the firewall subsection overview for the selected firewall to be used, it contains a script to simplify this process.
3. Return to this recommendation to ensure a single firewall configuration utility is in use

Default Value

Not applicable.

References

1. https://wiki.debian.org/DebianFirewall
2. https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UncomplicatedFirewall
3. https://assets.ubuntu.com/v1/544d9904-ubuntu-server-guide-2024-01-22.pdf
4. https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-reference/debian-reference.en.pdf

CIS Controls

v8 - 4.4 Implement and Manage a Firewall on Servers v8 - 4.5 Implement and Manage a Firewall on End-User Devices v7 - 9.4 Apply Host-based Firewalls or Port Filtering

MITRE ATT&CK Mappings: T1562, T1562.004 | TA0011 | M1031, M1037