UBTU-24-600160 - Ubuntu 24.04 LTS must compare internal information system clocks at least every 24 hours with an authoritative time server.

Information

Inaccurate time stamps make it more difficult to correlate events and can lead to an inaccurate analysis. Determining the correct time a particular event occurred on a system is critical when conducting forensic analysis and investigating system events. Sources outside the configured acceptable allowance (drift) may be inaccurate.

Synchronizing internal information system clocks provides uniformity of time stamps for information systems with multiple system clocks and systems connected over a network.

Organizations must consider endpoints that may not have regular access to the authoritative time server (e.g., mobile, teleworking, and tactical endpoints).

Satisfies: SRG-OS-000785-GPOS-00250, SRG-OS-000355-GPOS-00143

Solution

To configure the system clock to compare to the authoritative time source at least every 24 hours, edit the "/etc/chrony/chrony.conf" file. Add or correct the following lines, by replacing "[source]" in the following line with an authoritative time source:

server [source] iburst maxpoll 16

If the "chrony" service was running and the value of "maxpoll" or "server" was updated, the service must be restarted using the following command:

$ sudo systemctl restart chrony.service

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_CAN_Ubuntu_24-04_LTS_V1R1_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

References: 800-53|AU-8(1), CAT|III, CCI|CCI-004922, CCI|CCI-004923, Rule-ID|SV-270751r1066742_rule, STIG-ID|UBTU-24-600160, Vuln-ID|V-270751

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 77a11d35ee089fd001a92ef7fda0df02972530bbe5f7e7ef680b97da2557f664