Information
The operating system must prevent a user from overriding the screensaver idle-activation-enabled setting for the graphical user interface.
Rationale:
A session lock is a temporary action taken when a user stops work and moves away from the immediate physical vicinity of the information system but does not want to log out because of the temporary nature of the absence.
The session lock is implemented at the point where session activity can be determined.
The ability to enable/disable a session lock is given to the user by default. Disabling the user's ability to disengage the graphical user interface session lock provides the assurance that all sessions will lock after the specified period of time.
Solution
Configure the operating system to prevent a user from overriding a screensaver lock after a 15-minute period of inactivity for graphical user interfaces.
Create a database to contain the system-wide screensaver settings (if it does not already exist) with the following command:
Note: The example below is using the database local for the system, so if the system is using another database in /etc/dconf/profile/user, the file should be created under the appropriate subdirectory.
# touch /etc/dconf/db/local.d/locks/session
Add the setting to lock the screensaver idle-activation-enabled setting:
/org/gnome/desktop/screensaver/idle-activation-enabled
Notes:
This Benchmark recommendation maps to:
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide:
Version 2, Release: 3 Benchmark Date: 26 Apr 2019
Vul ID: V-78997
Rule ID: SV-93703r2_rule
STIG ID: RHEL-07-010101
Severity: CAT II