6.12 Set Default Screen Lock for GNOME Users - timeout = 10

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/611

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL

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

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: d85722d592685cfe6b1d6c37f94e39be7ca93c647f4a4e8a9ce351976851f83b