2.2.4 Ensure CUPS is not enabled

Warning! Audit Deprecated

This audit has been deprecated and will be removed in a future update.

View Next Audit Version

Information

The Common Unix Print System (CUPS) provides the ability to print to both local and network printers. A system running CUPS can also accept print jobs from remote systems and print them to local printers. It also provides a web based remote administration capability.

Rationale:

If the system does not need to print jobs or accept print jobs from other systems, it is recommended that CUPS be disabled to reduce the potential attack surface.

Solution

Run one of the following commands to disable cups :

# systemctl --now disable cups

Impact:

Disabling CUPS will prevent printing from the system, a common task for workstation systems.

References:

More detailed documentation on CUPS is available at the project homepage at http://www.cups.org.

Notes:

Additional methods of disabling a service exist. Consult your distribution documentation for appropriate methods.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/2658