EPAS-00-009200 - The EDB Postgres Advanced Server must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized modification of organization-defined information at rest (to include, at a minimum, PII and classified information) on organization-defined information system components.

Information

DBMSs handling data requiring 'data at rest' protections must employ cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure and modification of the information at rest. These cryptographic mechanisms may be native to the DBMS or implemented via additional software or operating system/file system settings, as appropriate to the situation.

Selection of a cryptographic mechanism is based on the need to protect the integrity of organizational information. The strength of the mechanism is commensurate with the security category and/or classification of the information. Organizations have the flexibility to either encrypt all information on storage devices (i.e., full disk encryption) or encrypt specific data structures (e.g., files, records, or fields).

The decision whether and what to encrypt rests with the data owner and is also influenced by the physical measures taken to secure the equipment and media on which the information resides.

NOTE: Nessus has not performed this check. Please review the benchmark to ensure target compliance.

Solution

Create an encrypted partition to host the '<PostgreSQL data directory>' directory. This can be done at the OS level with a technology such as db-crypt or other encryption technologies provided by third-party tools.

If only certain columns require encryption, use pgcrypt to encrypt those columns as documented here: http://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/static/pgcrypto.html

Note: Starting in Version 15, EDB Postgres Advanced Server natively supports Transparent Data Encryption (TDE): https://www.enterprisedb.com/docs/epas/latest/epas_security_guide/tde_feature/

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_EPAS_V2R1_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION

References: 800-53|SC-28(1), CAT|II, CCI|CCI-002475, Rule-ID|SV-259290r961599_rule, STIG-ID|EPAS-00-009200, Vuln-ID|V-259290

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: b248b70286eeb1cee42ea506cc7779317531f14976d12482a2ae63d3895540f6