GEN003602 - The system must not process Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) timestamp requests - 'timestamp-reply -j DROP'

Information

The processing of (ICMP) timestamp requests increases the attack surface of the system.

Solution

Configure the system to not respond to ICMP TIMESTAMP-REQUESTs. This is done by rejecting ICMP type 13 and 14 messages at the firewall.

Procedure:
Edit /etc/sysconfig/iptables to add:

-A RH-Firewall-1-INPUT -p ICMP --icmp-type timestamp-request -j DROP
-A RH-Firewall-1-INPUT -p ICMP --icmp-type timestamp-reply -j DROP

Restart the firewall:
# service iptables restart

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_Oracle_Linux_5_V1R14_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION

References: 800-53|SC-7(12), CAT|III, CCI|CCI-001551, CSCv6|9.2, Rule-ID|SV-64445r2_rule, STIG-ID|GEN003602, Vuln-ID|V-22409

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 19b88ddb7d83972ab52ca3bb5bc24585da2d584b50329f0aff822d089e7e49ac