6.12 Set Default Screen Lock for GNOME Users - lockTimeout = 0

Information

The timeout parameter dictates the invocation of a password-protected screen saver after
a specified time of keyboard and mouse inactivity, specific to the xscreensaver application
used in the GNOME windowing environment.

As a screensaver timeout provides protection for a desktop that has not been locked by the
user upon his/her departure, to help prevent session hijacking, this value should be set as
appropriate to the needs of the user.

Solution

Perform the following to implement the recommended state-# cd /usr/share/X11/app-defaults
# cp XScreenSaver XScreenSaver.orig
# awk '/^*timeout-/ { $2 = '0-10-00' }
/^*lockTimeout-/ { $2 = '0-00-00' }
/^*lock-/ { $2 = 'True' }
{ print }' xScreenSaver > xScreenSaver.CIS
# mv xScreenSaver.CIS xScreenSaver

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/616

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL

References: 800-53|AC-11, CSCv6|16.5

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: a311e5c50dd00a212a303c4f59fede5f1873a444560eab12689282dcfa68f3fb