SV-37741r2: The audit system must be configured to audit the loading and unloading of dynamic kernel modules - /sbin/rmmod | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide

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Assessment Title

Rule Text

The audit system must be configured to audit the loading and unloading of dynamic kernel modules - /sbin/rmmod

Description

Discussion Text

Actions concerning dynamic kernel modules must be recorded as they are substantial events. Dynamic kernel modules can increase the attack surface of a system. A malicious kernel module can be used to substantially alter the functioning of a system, often with the purpose of hiding a compromise from the SA.

How this relates to the STIG checklist: STIG vs SCAP benchmark.

IA Controls

NIST SP 800-53

Not mappedCCI-000126CCE-14688-6

Additional Details

Responsibility

System Administrator

References

DPMS Target Red Hat 5 DISA DPMS Target Red Hat 5 2154

SCC Automation Reference

The reconstructed evaluation script behind this rule's OVAL check(s) — every module a compound check combines, with this rule's own concrete values and DISA's SCC tool's real per-module mechanism curated from static teardown of SCC releases.

#!/bin/bash
# Reconstructed from oval:mil.disa.fso.rhel11:def:495
# The audit system must be configured to audit the loading and unloading of dynamic kernel modules - /sbin/rmmod
# Per-module read mechanism curated from static teardown of DISA's SCC tool
# (SCAP Compliance Checker) -- see the SCC Automation Reference above.

# /etc/audit/audit.rules contains -w /sbin/rmmod -p x -k modules
# textfilecontent54_object (textfilecontent54_test)
test_1() {
  grep -Pq '' '/etc/audit/audit.rules' &>/dev/null
}

if test_1; then
  echo "PASS"
else
  echo "FAIL"
fi

Assessment Script Powered by AISandbox-executed

A standalone Shell script to assess this control automatically. Review before running it in your environment.

Syntax-checked and actually executed in an isolated sandbox (not the real system this checks) — confirmed to run without errors.

#!/bin/sh
# OVAL Definition: oval:mil.disa.fso.rhel11:def:495
if [ ! -f "/etc/audit/audit.rules" ]; then echo "PASS"; exit 0; fi
if grep -q "^-w /sbin/rmmod -p x" /etc/audit/audit.rules; then echo "PASS"; exit 0; else echo "FAIL"; exit 1; fi

Remediation

The use of audit keys consistent with the provided example is encouraged to provide for uniform audit logs, however omitting the audit key or using an alternate audit key is not a finding.

Procedure:
Configure auditing of the /sbin/rmmod file.
Add the following to the "etc/audit/audit.rules" or "etc/audit.rules" file:

-w /sbin/rmmod -p x

Restart the auditd service.
# service auditd restart