7.2.1 Disable Source Routed Packet Acceptance - 'net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_source_route = 0'

Information

In networking, source routing allows a sender to partially or fully specify the route packets
take through a network. In contrast, non-source routed packets travel a path determined
by routers in the network. In some cases, systems may not be routable or reachable from
some locations (e.g. private addresses vs. Internet routable), and so source routed packets
would need to be used.

*Rationale*

Setting net.ipv4.conf.all.accept_source_route and
net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_source_route to 0 disables the system from accepting source
routed packets. Assume this server was capable of routing packets to Internet routable
addresses on one interface and private addresses on another interface. Assume that the
private addresses were not routable to the Internet routable addresses and vice versa.
Under normal routing circumstances, an attacker from the Internet routable addresses
could not use the server as a way to reach the private address servers. If, however, source
routed packets were allowed, they could be used to gain access to the private address
systems as the route could be specified, rather than rely on routing protocols that did not
allow this routing.

Solution

Set the net.ipv4.conf.all.accept_source_route and
net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_source_route parameters to 0 in /etc/sysctl.conf-net.ipv4.conf.all.accept_source_route=0
net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_source_route=0

Modify active kernel parameters to match-# /sbin/sysctl -w net.ipv4.conf.all.accept_source_route=0
# /sbin/sysctl -w net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_source_route=0
# /sbin/sysctl -w net.ipv4.route.flush=1

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/91

Item Details

Category: SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION

References: 800-53|SC-7(12), CSCv6|9.2

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: e447813b0cde86bca3d78e2384f3e23b6bf452d6a34d7de0e90f4d03f766309c