3.2.2 Ensure tipc kernel module is not available

Information

The Transparent Inter-Process Communication (TIPC) protocol is designed to provide communication between cluster nodes.

- IF - the protocol is not being used, it is recommended that kernel module not be loaded, disabling the service to reduce the potential attack surface.

Solution

Run the following script to unload and disable the tipc module:

- IF - the tipc kernel module is available in ANY installed kernel:

- Create a file ending inconf with install tipc /bin/false in the /etc/modprobe.d/ directory
- Create a file ending inconf with blacklist tipc in the /etc/modprobe.d/ directory
- Run modprobe -r tipc 2>/dev/null; rmmod tipc 2>/dev/null to remove tipc from the kernel

- IF - the tipc kernel module is not available on the system, or pre-compiled into the kernel, no remediation is necessary

#!/usr/bin/env bash

{
unset a_output2; l_output3="" l_dl="" # unset arrays and clear variables
l_mod_name="tipc" # set module name
l_mod_type="net" # set module type
l_mod_path="$(readlink -f /lib/modules/**/kernel/$l_mod_type | sort -u)"
f_module_fix()
{
l_dl="y" # Set to ignore duplicate checks
a_showconfig=() # Create array with modprobe output
while IFS= read -r l_showconfig; do
a_showconfig+=("$l_showconfig")
done < <(modprobe --showconfig | grep -P -- 'b(install|blacklist)h+'"${l_mod_name//-/_}"'b')
if lsmod | grep "$l_mod_name" &amp;> /dev/null; then # Check if the module is currently loaded
a_output2+=(" - unloading kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\"")
modprobe -r "$l_mod_name" 2>/dev/null; rmmod "$l_mod_name" 2>/dev/null
fi
if ! grep -Pq -- 'binstallh+'"${l_mod_name//-/_}"'h+/bin/(true|false)b' <<< "${a_showconfig[*]}"; then
a_output2+=(" - setting kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\" to \"/bin/false\"")
printf '%s
' "install $l_mod_name /bin/false" >> /etc/modprobe.d/"$l_mod_name".conf
fi
if ! grep -Pq -- 'bblacklisth+'"${l_mod_name//-/_}"'b' <<< "${a_showconfig[*]}"; then
a_output2+=(" - denylisting kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\"")
printf '%s
' "blacklist $l_mod_name" >> /etc/modprobe.d/"$l_mod_name".conf
fi
}
for l_mod_base_directory in $l_mod_path; do # Check if the module exists on the system
if [ -d "$l_mod_base_directory/${l_mod_name/-//}" ] &amp;&amp; [ -n "$(ls -A $l_mod_base_directory/${l_mod_name/-//})" ]; then
l_output3="$l_output3
- \"$l_mod_base_directory\""
[[ "$l_mod_name" =~ overlay ]] &amp;&amp; l_mod_name="${l_mod_name::-2}"
[ "$l_dl" != "y" ] &amp;&amp; f_module_fix
else
echo -e " - kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\" doesn't exist in \"$l_mod_base_directory\""
fi
done
[ -n "$l_output3" ] &amp;&amp; echo -e "

-- INFO --
- module: \"$l_mod_name\" exists in:$l_output3"
[ "${#a_output2[@]}" -gt 0 ] &amp;&amp; printf '%s
' "${a_output2[@]}"
echo -e "
- remediation of kernel module: \"$l_mod_name\" complete
"
}

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/18208

Item Details

Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

References: 800-53|CM-6, 800-53|CM-7, CSCv7|9.2

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 993d864b8733c5dcf5c063f6b2b3f0848b2209d3edd27f18a610f26f690e8826