2.2.2.11 Ensure the screensaver idle-activation-enabled setting

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

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/2688

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL

References: 800-53|AC-11

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 99763ab628edf7aa0509b4afad1f2bde7df8a4c47589f1c940c98e401d82f3af