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PANW-NM-000046 - The Palo Alto Networks security platform must be configured to prohibit the use of all unnecessary and/or nonsecure functions, ports, protocols, and/or services, as defined in the PPSM CAL and vulnerability assessments.

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Information

In order to prevent unauthorized connection of devices, unauthorized transfer of information, or unauthorized tunneling (i.e., embedding of data types within data types), organizations must disable unused or unnecessary physical and logical ports/protocols on information systems.

Network devices are capable of providing a wide variety of functions and services. Some of the functions and services provided by default may not be necessary to support essential organizational operations. Additionally, it is sometimes convenient to provide multiple services from a single component (e.g., email and web services); however, doing so increases risk over limiting the services provided by any one component.

To support the requirements and principles of least functionality, the network device must support the organizational requirements providing only essential capabilities and limiting the use of ports, protocols, and/or services to only those required, authorized, and approved to conduct official business or to address authorized quality of life issues.

The Palo Alto Networks security platform uses a hardened operating system in which unnecessary services are not present. The device has a DNS, NTP, update, and e-mail client installed. Note that these are client applications and not servers; additionally, each has a valid purpose. However, local policy may dictate that the update service, e-mail client, and statistics (reporting) service capabilities not be used. DNS can be either 'Server' or 'Proxy'; both are allowed unless local policy declares otherwise. NTP and SNMP are necessary functions.

NOTE: Nessus has provided the target output to assist in reviewing the benchmark to ensure target compliance.

Solution

Go to Device >> Setup >> Services
In the 'Services' window, select the 'Edit' icon (the gear symbol in the upper-right corner of the pane).
Note: DNS can be either 'Server' or 'Proxy'; both are allowed unless local policy declares otherwise.
Note: The Palo Alto Networks security platform cannot be a DNS server, only a client or proxy.

NTP is a necessary service.
Note: The Palo Alto Networks security platform cannot be an NTP server, only a client.

Go to Device >> Setup >> Management
In the 'Management Interface Settings' window, select the 'Edit' icon (the gear symbol in the upper-right corner of the pane).
In the 'Management Interface Settings' window, select HTTP OCSP, HTTPS, SSH, SNMP, User-ID, User-ID Syslog Listener-SSL, User-ID Syslog Listener-UDP if these protocols will be used.
Select 'OK'.
Note: SNMP Versions 1 and 2 are not considered secure; use SNMP Version 3.

Device >> Setup >> Operations tab>> Miscellaneous
Select SNMP Setup.
In the 'SNMP Setup' window, select V3.
Select 'OK'.
Commit changes by selecting 'Commit' in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Select 'OK' when the confirmation dialog appears.

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_PAN_Y24M01_STIG.zip

Item Details

References: CAT|II, CCI|CCI-000382, Rule-ID|SV-228645r513540_rule, STIG-ID|PANW-NM-000046, STIG-Legacy|SV-77207, STIG-Legacy|V-62717, Vuln-ID|V-228645

Plugin: Palo_Alto

Control ID: b9e0376face3958a36fe62e98e4f8b3d91bad62ff5ef87f845282268a00696c1