PHTN-67-000061 - The Photon operating system must be configured to synchronize with an approved DoD time source.

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

Satisfies: SRG-OS-000355-GPOS-00143, SRG-OS-000356-GPOS-00144

Solution

Open /etc/ntp.conf with a text editor and set its contents to the following:

tinker panic 0
restrict default kod nomodify notrap nopeer
restrict 127.0.0.1
restrict -6 ::1
driftfile /var/lib/ntp/drift/ntp.drift
server <site-specific-time-source-IP>

At the command line, execute the following commands:

# chkconfig ntpd on
# systemctl start ntp

OR

Navigate to https://<hostname>:5480 to access the VAMI.

Authenticate and navigate to 'Time'.

Click 'Edit' in the top right and configure at least one appropriate NTP server.

Click 'OK'.

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_VMW_vSphere_6-7_Y23M07_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

References: 800-53|AU-8(1)(a), 800-53|AU-8(1)(b), CAT|II, CCI|CCI-001891, CCI|CCI-002046, Rule-ID|SV-239132r877038_rule, STIG-ID|PHTN-67-000061, Vuln-ID|V-239132

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 711f6b59667d7afaf589508e470065bbe711ef3a9cdfa143274e53efee3f37c7