PGS9-00-010100 - PostgreSQL must require users to reauthenticate when organization-defined circumstances or situations require reauthentication.

Information

The DoD standard for authentication of an interactive user is the presentation of a Common Access Card (CAC) or other physical token bearing a valid, current, DoD-issued Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificate, coupled with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to be entered by the user at the beginning of each session and whenever reauthentication is required.

Without reauthentication, users may access resources or perform tasks for which they do not have authorization.

When applications provide the capability to change security roles or escalate the functional capability of the application, it is critical the user re-authenticate.

In addition to the reauthentication requirements associated with session locks, organizations may require reauthentication of individuals and/or devices in other situations, including (but not limited to) the following circumstances:

(i) When authenticators change;
(ii) When roles change;
(iii) When security categorized information systems change;
(iv) When the execution of privileged functions occurs;
(v) After a fixed period of time; or
(vi) Periodically.

Within the DoD, the minimum circumstances requiring reauthentication are privilege escalation and role changes.

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

Solution

Modify and/or configure PostgreSQL and related applications and tools so that users are always required to reauthenticate when changing role or escalating privileges.

To make a single user re-authenticate, the following must be present:

SELECT pg_terminate_backend(pid) FROM pg_stat_activity WHERE user='<username>'

To make all users re-authenticate, the following must be present:

SELECT pg_terminate_backend(pid) FROM pg_stat_activity WHERE user LIKE '%'

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_PGS_SQL_9-x_V2R5_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION

References: 800-53|IA-11, CAT|II, CCI|CCI-002038, Rule-ID|SV-214135r987687_rule, STIG-ID|PGS9-00-010100, STIG-Legacy|SV-87679, STIG-Legacy|V-73027, Vuln-ID|V-214135

Plugin: PostgreSQLDB

Control ID: dd8f25c96e371937c19748ea69372e8d00010f3edec9a9dfffdab64835ae0aa1