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Run an Ubuntu VM system audit with Lynis

September 11, 2017 by Simon

Following on from my Securing Ubuntu in the cloud blog post I have installed Lynis open source security audit tool to check out to the security of my server in the cloud.

Lynis is an open source security auditing tool. Used by system administrators, security professionals, and auditors, to evaluate the security defences of their Linux and Unix-based systems. It runs on the host itself, so it performs more extensive security scans than vulnerability scanners. https://cisofy.com/lynis and https://github.com/CISOfy/lynis.

It is easy to setup a server in the cloud (create a server on Vultr or Digital Ocean here). Guides on setting up servers exist ( setup up a Vultr VM and configure it and digital ocean server) but how about securing it? You can install a LetsEncrypt SSL certificate in minutes or setup Content Security Policy and Public Key Pinning but don’t forget to get an external in-depth review of the security of your server(s).

Lynis Security Auditing Tool

Preparing install location (for Lynis)

cd /
mkdir utils
cd utils/

Install Lynis

sudo git clone https://www.github.com/CISOfy/lynis
Cloning into 'lynis'...
remote: Counting objects: 8357, done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (45/45), done.
remote: Total 8357 (delta 28), reused 42 (delta 17), pack-reused 8295
Receiving objects: 100% (8357/8357), 3.94 MiB | 967.00 KiB/s, done.
Resolving deltas: 100% (6121/6121), done.
Checking connectivity... done.

Running a Lynus system scan

./lynis audit system -Q

Lynis Results 1/3 Output (removed sensitive output)

[ Lynis 2.5.5 ]

################################################################################
  Lynis comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY. This is free software, and you are
  welcome to redistribute it under the terms of the GNU General Public License.
  See the LICENSE file for details about using this software.

  2007-2017, CISOfy - https://cisofy.com/lynis/
  Enterprise support available (compliance, plugins, interface and tools)
################################################################################


[+] Initializing program
------------------------------------
- Detecting OS...  [ DONE ]
- Checking profiles... [ DONE ]

  ---------------------------------------------------
  Program version:           2.5.5
  Operating system:          Linux
  Operating system name:     Ubuntu Linux
  Operating system version:  16.04
  Kernel version:            4.4.0
  Hardware platform:         x86_64
  Hostname:                  yourservername
  ---------------------------------------------------
  Profiles:                  /linis/lynis/default.prf
  Log file:                  /var/log/lynis.log
  Report file:               /var/log/lynis-report.dat
  Report version:            1.0
  Plugin directory:          ./plugins
  ---------------------------------------------------
  Auditor:                   [Not Specified]
  Test category:             all
  Test group:                all
  ---------------------------------------------------
- Program update status...  [ NO UPDATE ]

[+] System Tools
------------------------------------
- Scanning available tools...
- Checking system binaries...

[+] Plugins (phase 1)
------------------------------------
: plugins have more extensive tests and may take several minutes to complete - Plugin pam
    [..]
- Plugin systemd
    [................]

[+] Boot and services
------------------------------------
- Service Manager [ systemd ]
- Checking UEFI boot [ DISABLED ]
- Checking presence GRUB [ OK ]
- Checking presence GRUB2 [ FOUND ]
- Checking for password protection [ OK ]
- Check running services (systemctl) [ DONE ]
: found 24 running services
- Check enabled services at boot (systemctl) [ DONE ]
: found 30 enabled services
- Check startup files (permissions) [ OK ]

[+] Kernel
------------------------------------
- Checking default run level [ RUNLEVEL 5 ]
- Checking CPU support (NX/PAE)
 support: PAE and/or NoeXecute supported [ FOUND ]
- Checking kernel version and release [ DONE ]
- Checking kernel type [ DONE ]
- Checking loaded kernel modules [ DONE ]
active modules
- Checking Linux kernel configuration file [ FOUND ]
- Checking default I/O kernel scheduler [ FOUND ]
- Checking for available kernel update [ OK ]
- Checking core dumps configuration [ DISABLED ]
- Checking setuid core dumps configuration [ PROTECTED ]
- Check if reboot is needed [ NO ]

[+] Memory and Processes
------------------------------------
- Checking /proc/meminfo [ FOUND ]
- Searching for dead/zombie processes [ OK ]
- Searching for IO waiting processes [ OK ]

[+] Users, Groups and Authentication
------------------------------------
- Administrator accounts [ OK ]
- Unique UIDs [ OK ]
- Consistency of group files (grpck) [ OK ]
- Unique group IDs [ OK ]
- Unique group names [ OK ]
- Password file consistency [ OK ]
- Query system users (non daemons) [ DONE ]
- NIS+ authentication support [ NOT ENABLED ]
- NIS authentication support [ NOT ENABLED ]
- sudoers file [ FOUND ]
- Check sudoers file permissions [ OK ]
- PAM password strength tools [ OK ]
- PAM configuration files (pam.conf) [ FOUND ]
- PAM configuration files (pam.d) [ FOUND ]
- PAM modules [ FOUND ]
- LDAP module in PAM [ NOT FOUND ]
- Accounts without expire date [ OK ]
- Accounts without password [ OK ]
- Checking user password aging (minimum) [ DISABLED ]
- User password aging (maximum) [ DISABLED ]
- Checking expired passwords [ OK ]
- Checking Linux single user mode authentication [ OK ]
- Determining default umask
- umask (/etc/profile) [ NOT FOUND ]
- umask (/etc/login.defs) [ SUGGESTION ]
- umask (/etc/init.d/rc) [ SUGGESTION ]
- LDAP authentication support [ NOT ENABLED ]
- Logging failed login attempts [ ENABLED ]

[+] Shells
------------------------------------
- Checking shells from /etc/shells
: found 6 shells (valid shells: 6).
- Session timeout settings/tools [ NONE ]
- Checking default umask values
- Checking default umask in /etc/bash.bashrc [ NONE ]
- Checking default umask in /etc/profile [ NONE ]

[+] File systems
------------------------------------
- Checking mount points
- Checking /home mount point [ SUGGESTION ]
- Checking /tmp mount point [ SUGGESTION ]
- Checking /var mount point [ SUGGESTION ]
- Query swap partitions (fstab) [ NONE ]
- Testing swap partitions [ OK ]
- Testing /proc mount (hidepid) [ SUGGESTION ]
- Checking for old files in /tmp [ OK ]
- Checking /tmp sticky bit [ OK ]
- ACL support root file system [ ENABLED ]
- Mount options of / [ NON DEFAULT ]
- Checking Locate database [ FOUND ]
- Disable kernel support of some filesystems
- Discovered kernel modules: cramfs freevxfs hfs hfsplus jffs2 udf 

[+] Storage
------------------------------------
- Checking usb-storage driver (modprobe config) [ NOT DISABLED ]
- Checking USB devices authorization [ ENABLED ]
- Checking firewire ohci driver (modprobe config) [ DISABLED ]

[+] NFS
------------------------------------
- Check running NFS daemon [ NOT FOUND ]

[+] Name services
------------------------------------
- Searching DNS domain name [ UNKNOWN ]
- Checking /etc/hosts
- Checking /etc/hosts (duplicates) [ OK ]
- Checking /etc/hosts (hostname) [ OK ]
- Checking /etc/hosts (localhost) [ SUGGESTION ]
- Checking /etc/hosts (localhost to IP) [ OK ]

[+] Ports and packages
------------------------------------
- Searching package managers
- Searching dpkg package manager [ FOUND ]
- Querying package manager
- Query unpurged packages [ NONE ]
- Checking security repository in sources.list file [ OK ]
- Checking APT package database [ OK ]
- Checking vulnerable packages [ OK ]
- Checking upgradeable packages [ SKIPPED ]
- Checking package audit tool [ INSTALLED ]

[+] Networking
------------------------------------
- Checking IPv6 configuration [ ENABLED ]
 method [ AUTO ]
 only [ NO ]
- Checking configured nameservers
- Testing nameservers
: 108.xx.xx.xx [ OK ]
: 2001:xxx:xxx:xxx::6 [ OK ]
- Minimal of 2 responsive nameservers [ OK ]
- Checking default gateway [ DONE ]
- Getting listening ports (TCP/UDP) [ DONE ]
* Found 18 ports
- Checking promiscuous interfaces [ OK ]
- Checking waiting connections [ OK ]
- Checking status DHCP client [ NOT ACTIVE ]
- Checking for ARP monitoring software [ NOT FOUND ]

[+] Printers and Spools
------------------------------------
- Checking cups daemon [ NOT FOUND ]
- Checking lp daemon [ NOT RUNNING ]

[+] Software: e-mail and messaging
------------------------------------
- Sendmail status [ RUNNING ]

[+] Software: firewalls
------------------------------------
- Checking iptables kernel module [ FOUND ]
- Checking iptables policies of chains [ FOUND ]
- Checking for empty ruleset [ OK ]
- Checking for unused rules [ FOUND ]
- Checking host based firewall [ ACTIVE ]

[+] Software: webserver
------------------------------------
- Checking Apache (binary /usr/sbin/apache2) [ FOUND ]
: No virtual hosts found
* Loadable modules [ FOUND (106) ]
- Found 106 loadable modules 
- anti-DoS/brute force [ OK ]
- web application firewall [ OK ]
- Checking nginx [ FOUND ]
- Searching nginx configuration file [ FOUND ]
- Found nginx includes [ 2 FOUND ]
- Parsing configuration options
- /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
- /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/default
- SSL configured [ YES ]
- Ciphers configured [ YES ]
- Prefer server ciphers [ YES ]
- Protocols configured [ YES ]
- Insecure protocols found [ NO ]
- Checking log file configuration
- Missing log files (access_log) [ NO ]
- Disabled access logging [ NO ]
- Missing log files (error_log) [ NO ]
- Debugging mode on error_log [ NO ]

[+] SSH Support
------------------------------------
- Checking running SSH daemon [ FOUND ]
- Searching SSH configuration [ FOUND ]
- SSH option: AllowTcpForwarding [ SUGGESTION ]
- SSH option: ClientAliveCountMax [ SUGGESTION ]
- SSH option: ClientAliveInterval [ OK ]
- SSH option: Compression [ SUGGESTION ]
- SSH option: FingerprintHash [ OK ]
- SSH option: GatewayPorts [ OK ]
- SSH option: IgnoreRhosts [ OK ]
- SSH option: LoginGraceTime [ OK ]
- SSH option: LogLevel [ SUGGESTION ]
- SSH option: MaxAuthTries [ SUGGESTION ]
- SSH option: MaxSessions [ SUGGESTION ]
- SSH option: PermitRootLogin [ SUGGESTION ]
- SSH option: PermitUserEnvironment [ OK ]
- SSH option: PermitTunnel [ OK ]
- SSH option: Port [ SUGGESTION ]
- SSH option: PrintLastLog [ OK ]
- SSH option: Protocol [ OK ]
- SSH option: StrictModes [ OK ]
- SSH option: TCPKeepAlive [ SUGGESTION ]
- SSH option: UseDNS [ OK ]
- SSH option: VerifyReverseMapping [ NOT FOUND ]
- SSH option: X11Forwarding [ SUGGESTION ]
- SSH option: AllowAgentForwarding [ SUGGESTION ]
- SSH option: AllowUsers [ NOT FOUND ]
- SSH option: AllowGroups [ NOT FOUND ]

[+] SNMP Support
------------------------------------
- Checking running SNMP daemon [ NOT FOUND ]

[+] Databases
------------------------------------
- MySQL process status [FOUND ]

[+] LDAP Services
------------------------------------
- Checking OpenLDAP instance [ NOT FOUND ]

[+] PHP
------------------------------------
- Checking PHP [ FOUND ]
- Checking PHP disabled functions [ FOUND ]
- Checking expose_php option [ OFF ]
- Checking enable_dl option [ OFF ]
- Checking allow_url_fopen option [ ON ]
- Checking allow_url_include option [ OFF ]
- Checking PHP suhosin extension status [ OK ]
- Suhosin simulation mode status [ OK ]

[+] Squid Support
------------------------------------
- Checking running Squid daemon [ NOT FOUND ]

[+] Logging and files
------------------------------------
- Checking for a running log daemon [ OK ]
- Checking Syslog-NG status [ NOT FOUND ]
- Checking systemd journal status [ FOUND ]
- Checking Metalog status [ NOT FOUND ]
- Checking RSyslog status [ FOUND ]
- Checking RFC 3195 daemon status [ NOT FOUND ]
- Checking minilogd instances [ NOT FOUND ]
- Checking logrotate presence [ OK ]
- Checking log directories (static list) [ DONE ]
- Checking open log files [ DONE ]
- Checking deleted files in use [ FILES FOUND ]

[+] Insecure services
------------------------------------
- Checking inetd status [ NOT ACTIVE ]

[+] Banners and identification
------------------------------------
- /etc/issue [ FOUND ]
- /etc/issue contents [ OK ]
- /etc/issue.net [ FOUND ]
- /etc/issue.net contents [ OK ]

[+] Scheduled tasks
------------------------------------
- Checking crontab/cronjob [ DONE ]
- Checking atd status [ RUNNING ]
- Checking at users [ DONE ]
- Checking at jobs [ NONE ]

[+] Accounting
------------------------------------
- Checking accounting information [ NOT FOUND ]
- Checking sysstat accounting data [ NOT FOUND ]
- Checking auditd [ NOT FOUND ]

[+] Time and Synchronization
------------------------------------
- NTP daemon found: ntpd [ FOUND ]
- NTP daemon found: systemd (timesyncd) [ FOUND ]
- Checking for a running NTP daemon or client [ OK ]
- Checking valid association ID's [ FOUND ]
- Checking high stratum ntp peers [ OK ]
- Checking unreliable ntp peers [ FOUND ]
- Checking selected time source [ OK ]
- Checking time source candidates [ OK ]
- Checking falsetickers [ OK ]
- Checking NTP version [ FOUND ]

[+] Cryptography
------------------------------------
- Checking for expired SSL certificates [0/1] [ NONE ]

[+] Virtualization
------------------------------------

[+] Containers
------------------------------------

[+] Security frameworks
------------------------------------
- Checking presence AppArmor [ FOUND ]
- Checking AppArmor status [ ENABLED ]
- Checking presence SELinux [ NOT FOUND ]
- Checking presence grsecurity [ NOT FOUND ]
- Checking for implemented MAC framework [ OK ]

[+] Software: file integrity
------------------------------------
- Checking file integrity tools
- Checking presence integrity tool [ NOT FOUND ]

[+] Software: System tooling
------------------------------------
- Checking automation tooling
- Automation tooling [ NOT FOUND ]
- Checking presence of Fail2ban [ FOUND ]
- Checking Fail2ban jails [ ENABLED ]
- Checking for IDS/IPS tooling [ FOUND ]

[+] Software: Malware
------------------------------------

[+] File Permissions
------------------------------------
- Starting file permissions check
/root/.ssh [ OK ]

[+] Home directories
------------------------------------
- Checking shell history files [ OK ]

[+] Kernel Hardening
------------------------------------
- Comparing sysctl key pairs with scan profile
- fs.protected_hardlinks (exp: 1) [ OK ]
- fs.protected_symlinks (exp: 1) [ OK ]
- fs.suid_dumpable (exp: 0) [ DIFFERENT ]
- kernel.core_uses_pid (exp: 1) [ DIFFERENT ]
- kernel.ctrl-alt-del (exp: 0) [ OK ]
- kernel.dmesg_restrict (exp: 1) [ DIFFERENT ]
- kernel.kptr_restrict (exp: 2) [ DIFFERENT ]
- kernel.randomize_va_space (exp: 2) [ OK ]
- kernel.sysrq (exp: 0) [ DIFFERENT ]
- net.ipv4.conf.all.accept_redirects (exp: 0) [ OK ]
- net.ipv4.conf.all.accept_source_route (exp: 0) [ OK ]
- net.ipv4.conf.all.bootp_relay (exp: 0) [ OK ]
- net.ipv4.conf.all.forwarding (exp: 0) [ OK ]
- net.ipv4.conf.all.log_martians (exp: 1) [ DIFFERENT ]
- net.ipv4.conf.all.mc_forwarding (exp: 0) [ OK ]
- net.ipv4.conf.all.proxy_arp (exp: 0) [ OK ]
- net.ipv4.conf.all.rp_filter (exp: 1) [ OK ]
- net.ipv4.conf.all.send_redirects (exp: 0) [ DIFFERENT ]
- net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_redirects (exp: 0) [ OK ]
- net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_source_route (exp: 0) [ OK ]
- net.ipv4.conf.default.log_martians (exp: 1) [ DIFFERENT ]
- net.ipv4.icmp_echo_ignore_broadcasts (exp: 1) [ OK ]
- net.ipv4.icmp_ignore_bogus_error_responses (exp: 1) [ OK ]
- net.ipv4.tcp_syncookies (exp: 1) [ DIFFERENT ]
- net.ipv4.tcp_timestamps (exp: 0) [ DIFFERENT ]
- net.ipv6.conf.all.accept_redirects (exp: 0) [ OK ]
- net.ipv6.conf.all.accept_source_route (exp: 0) [ OK ]
- net.ipv6.conf.default.accept_redirects (exp: 0) [ OK ]
- net.ipv6.conf.default.accept_source_route (exp: 0) [ OK ]

[+] Hardening
------------------------------------
- Installed compiler(s) [ FOUND ]
- Installed malware scanner [ NOT FOUND ]

[+] Custom Tests
------------------------------------
- Running custom tests...  [ NONE ]

[+] Plugins (phase 2)
------------------------------------
- Plugins (phase 2) [ DONE ]

================================================================================

...

Lynis Results 2/3 – Warnings

  Warnings (1):
  ----------------------------
  ! Found one or more vulnerable packages. [REMOVED-FIXED] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/REMOVED-FIXED/
...

I resolved the only warning by typing

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
shutdown -r now

After updating the Lynis system scan I re-ran the text and got

 -[ Lynis 2.5.5 Results ]-

  Great, no warnings

Lynis Results 3/3 – Suggestions

  Suggestions (44):
  ----------------------------
  * Set a password on GRUB bootloader to prevent altering boot configuration (e.g. boot in single user mode without password) [BOOT-5122] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/BOOT-5122/

  * Configure minimum password age in /etc/login.defs [AUTH-9286] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/AUTH-9286/

  * Configure maximum password age in /etc/login.defs [AUTH-9286] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/AUTH-9286/

  * Default umask in /etc/login.defs could be more strict like 027 [AUTH-9328] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/AUTH-9328/

  * Default umask in /etc/init.d/rc could be more strict like 027 [AUTH-9328] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/AUTH-9328/

  * To decrease the impact of a full /home file system, place /home on a separated partition [FILE-6310] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/FILE-6310/

  * To decrease the impact of a full /tmp file system, place /tmp on a separated partition [FILE-6310] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/FILE-6310/

  * To decrease the impact of a full /var file system, place /var on a separated partition [FILE-6310] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/FILE-6310/

  * Disable drivers like USB storage when not used, to prevent unauthorized storage or data theft [STRG-1840] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/STRG-1840/

  * Check DNS configuration for the dns domain name [NAME-4028] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/NAME-4028/

  * Split resolving between localhost and the hostname of the system [NAME-4406] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/NAME-4406/

  * Install debsums utility for the verification of packages with known good database. [PKGS-7370] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/PKGS-7370/

  * Update your system with apt-get update, apt-get upgrade, apt-get dist-upgrade and/or unattended-upgrades [PKGS-7392] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/PKGS-7392/

  * Install package apt-show-versions for patch management purposes [PKGS-7394] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/PKGS-7394/

  * Consider running ARP monitoring software (arpwatch,arpon) [NETW-3032] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/NETW-3032/

  * Check iptables rules to see which rules are currently not used [FIRE-4513] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/FIRE-4513/

  * Install Apache mod_evasive to guard webserver against DoS/brute force attempts [HTTP-6640] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/HTTP-6640/

  * Install Apache modsecurity to guard webserver against web application attacks [HTTP-6643] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/HTTP-6643/

  * Consider hardening SSH configuration [SSH-7408] 
    - Details  : AllowTcpForwarding (YES --> NO)
      https://cisofy.com/controls/SSH-7408/

  * Consider hardening SSH configuration [SSH-7408] 
    - Details  : ClientAliveCountMax (3 --> 2)
      https://cisofy.com/controls/SSH-7408/

  * Consider hardening SSH configuration [SSH-7408] 
    - Details  : Compression (DELAYED --> NO)
      https://cisofy.com/controls/SSH-7408/

  * Consider hardening SSH configuration [SSH-7408] 
    - Details  : LogLevel (INFO --> VERBOSE)
      https://cisofy.com/controls/SSH-7408/

  * Consider hardening SSH configuration [SSH-7408] 
    - Details  : MaxAuthTries (2 --> 1)
      https://cisofy.com/controls/SSH-7408/

  * Consider hardening SSH configuration [SSH-7408] 
    - Details  : MaxSessions (10 --> 2)
      https://cisofy.com/controls/SSH-7408/

  * Consider hardening SSH configuration [SSH-7408] 
    - Details  : PermitRootLogin (YES --> NO)
      https://cisofy.com/controls/SSH-7408/

  * Consider hardening SSH configuration [SSH-7408] 
    - Details  : Port (22 --> )
      https://cisofy.com/controls/SSH-7408/

  * Consider hardening SSH configuration [SSH-7408] 
    - Details  : TCPKeepAlive (YES --> NO)
      https://cisofy.com/controls/SSH-7408/

  * Consider hardening SSH configuration [SSH-7408] 
    - Details  : X11Forwarding (YES --> NO)
      https://cisofy.com/controls/SSH-7408/

  * Consider hardening SSH configuration [SSH-7408] 
    - Details  : AllowAgentForwarding (YES --> NO)
      https://cisofy.com/controls/SSH-7408/

  * Change the allow_url_fopen line to: allow_url_fopen = Off, to disable downloads via PHP [PHP-2376] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/PHP-2376

  * Check what deleted files are still in use and why. [LOGG-2190] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/LOGG-2190/

  * Add a legal banner to /etc/issue, to warn unauthorized users [BANN-7126] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/BANN-7126/

  * Add legal banner to /etc/issue.net, to warn unauthorized users [BANN-7130] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/BANN-7130/

  * Enable process accounting [ACCT-9622] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/ACCT-9622/

  * Enable sysstat to collect accounting (no results) [ACCT-9626] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/ACCT-9626/

  * Enable auditd to collect audit information [ACCT-9628] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/ACCT-9628/

  * Check ntpq peers output for unreliable ntp peers and correct/replace them [TIME-3120] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/TIME-3120/

  * Install a file integrity tool to monitor changes to critical and sensitive files [FINT-4350] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/FINT-4350/

  * Determine if automation tools are present for system management [TOOL-5002] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/TOOL-5002/

  * One or more sysctl values differ from the scan profile and could be tweaked [KRNL-6000] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/KRNL-6000/

  * Harden compilers like restricting access to root user only [HRDN-7222] 
      https://cisofy.com/controls/HRDN-7222/

  * Harden the system by installing at least one malware scanner, to perform periodic file system scans [HRDN-7230] 
    - Solution : Install a tool like rkhunter, chkrootkit, OSSEC
      https://cisofy.com/controls/HRDN-7230/

  Follow-up
  ----------------------------
  - Show details of a test (lynis show details TEST-ID)
  - Check the logfile for all details (less /var/log/lynis.log)
  - Read security controls texts (https://cisofy.com)
  - Use --upload to upload data to central system (Lynis Enterprise users)

================================================================================

  Lynis security scan details

  Hardening index : 64 [############        ]
  Tests performed : 255
  Plugins enabled : 2

  Components
  - Firewall               [V]
  - Malware scanner        [X]

  Lynis Modules
  - Compliance Status      [?]
  - Security Audit         [V]
  - Vulnerability Scan     [V]

  Files
  - Test and debug information      : /var/log/lynis.log
  - Report data                     : /var/log/lynis-report.dat

================================================================================

  Lynis 2.5.5

  Auditing, system hardening, and compliance for UNIX-based systems
  (Linux, macOS, BSD, and others)

  2007-2017, CISOfy - https://cisofy.com/lynis/
  Enterprise support available (compliance, plugins, interface and tools)

================================================================================

  [TIP] Enhance Lynis audits by adding your settings to custom.prf (see /linis/lynis/default.prf for all settings)

Installing a Malware Scanner

Install ClamAV

sudo apt-get install clamav

Download virus and malware definitions (this takes about 30 min)

sudo freshclam

Output:

sudo freshclam
> ClamAV Update process started at Wed Nov 15th 20:44:55 2017
> Downloading main.cvd [10%]

I had an issue on some boxes with clamav reporting I could not run freshclam

sudo freshclam
ERROR: /var/log/clamav/freshclam.log is locked by another process
ERROR: Problem with internal logger (UpdateLogFile = /var/log/clamav/freshclam.log).

This was fixed by typing

rm -rf /var/log/clamav/freshclam.log
sudo freshclam

Troubleshooting clamav

Clam AV does not like low ram boxes and may produce this error

Downloading main.cvd [100%]
ERROR: Database load killed by signal 9
ERROR: Failed to load new database

It looks like the solution is to increase your total ram.

fyi: Scan with ClamAV

sudo clamscan --max-filesize=3999M --max-scansize=3999M --exclude-dir=/www/* -i -r /

Re-running Lynis gave me the following malware status

- Malware scanner        [V]

Lynis Security rating

Hardening index : 69 [##############      ]

Installed

sudo apt-get install apt-show-versions
sudo apt-get install arpwatch
sudo apt-get install arpon

After re-running the test I got this Lynis security rating score (an improvement of 1)

Hardening index : 70 [#############       ]

Installed and configured debsums and auditd

sudo apt-get install debsums
sudo apt-get install audit

Now I get the following Lynis security rating score.

Hardening index : 71 [##############      ]

Conclusion

Lynis is great at performing an audit and recommending areas of work to allow you to harden your system (brute force protection, firewall, etc)

Security Don’ts

  • Never think you are done securing a system.

Security Do’s

  • Update Software (and remove software you do not use.)
  • Check Lynis Suggestions and try and resolve.
  • Security is an ongoing process, Do install a firewall, do ban bad IP’s, Do whitelist good IP’s, Do review Logs,
  • Do limit port access, make backups and keep on securing.

I will keep on securing and try and get remove all issues.

Read my past post on Securing Ubuntu in the cloud.

Scheduling an auto system updates is not enough in Ubuntu (as it is not recommended as the administrator should make decisions, not a scheduled job).

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade

fyi: CISOFY/Lynis do have paid subscriptions to have external scans of your servers: https://cisofy.com/pricing. (why upgrade?)

Lynis Plans

I will look into this feature soon.

Updating Lynis

I checked the official documentation and ran an update check

./lynis --check-update
This option is deprecated
Use: lynis update info

./lynis update info

 == Lynis ==

  Version            : 2.5.5
  Status             : Outdated
  Installed version  : 255
  Latest version     : 257
  Release date       : 2017-09-07
  Update location    : https://cisofy.com/lynis/


2007-2017, CISOfy - https://cisofy.com/lynis/

Not sure how to update?

./lynis update
Error: Need a target for update

Examples:
lynis update check
lynis update info

./lynis update check
status=outdated

I opened an issue about updating v2.5.5 here. I asked Twiter for help.

Twitter

Official Response: https://packages.cisofy.com/community/#debian-ubuntu

Git Response

Waiting..

I ended up deleting Lynis 2.5.5

ls -al
rm -R *
rm -rf *
rm -rf .git
rm -rf .gitignore
rm -rf .travis.yml
cd ..
rm -R lynis/
ls -al

Updated

./lynis update check
status=up-to-date

And reinstalled to v2.5.8

sudo git clone https://www.github.com/CISOfy/lynis

Output:

sudo git clone https://www.github.com/CISOfy/lynis
Cloning into 'lynis'...
remote: Counting objects: 8538, done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (4/4), done.
remote: Total 8538 (delta 0), reused 0 (delta 0), pack-reused 8534
Receiving objects: 100% (8538/8538), 3.96 MiB | 2.01 MiB/s, done.
Resolving deltas: 100% (6265/6265), done.
Checking connectivity... done.

More actions post upgrade to 2.5.8

  • Added a legal notice to “/etc/issues”, “/etc/issues.net” file’s.

Installing Lynis via apt-get instead of git clone

The official steps can be located here: https://packages.cisofy.com/community/#debian-ubuntu

apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys C80E383C3DE9F082E01391A0366C67DE91CA5D5F
apt install apt-transport-https
echo 'Acquire::Languages "none";' > /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/99disable-translations
echo "deb https://packages.cisofy.com/community/lynis/deb/xenial main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cisofy-lynis.list
apt update
apt install lynis
lynis show version

Unfortunately, I had an error with “apt update”

Error:

E: Malformed entry 1 in list file /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cisofy-lynis.list (Component)
E: The list of sources could not be read.

Complete install output

apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys C80E383C3DE9F082E01391A0366C67DE91CA5D5F
Executing: /tmp/tmp.Dz9g9nKV6i/gpg.1.sh --keyserver
keyserver.ubuntu.com
--recv-keys
C80E383C3DE9F082E01391A0366C67DE91CA5D5F
gpg: requesting key 91CA5D5F from hkp server keyserver.ubuntu.com
gpg: key 91CA5D5F: public key "CISOfy Software (signed software packages) <[email protected]>" imported
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg:               imported: 1  (RSA: 1)

# apt install apt-transport-https
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
apt-transport-https is already the newest version (1.2.24).
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  gamin libfile-copy-recursive-perl libgamin0 libglade2-0 libpango1.0-0 libpangox-1.0-0 openbsd-inetd pure-ftpd-common update-inetd
Use 'apt autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 8 not upgraded.

# echo 'Acquire::Languages "none";' > /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/99disable-translations

# echo "deb https://packages.cisofy.com/community/lynis/deb/ xenial main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cisofy-lynis.list

# apt update
E: Malformed entry 1 in list file /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cisofy-lynis.list (Component)
E: The list of sources could not be read.

I reopened Github issue 491. A quick reply revealed that I did not put a space before “xenial” (oops)

fyi: I removed the dead keystore from apt by typing…

apt-key list
apt-key del 91CA5D5F
rm -rf /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cisofy-lynis.list

I can now install and update other packages with apt and not have the following error

E: Malformed entry 1 in list file /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cisofy-lynis.list (Component)
E: The list of sources could not be read.
E: Malformed entry 1 in list file /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cisofy-lynis.list (Component)
E: The list of sources could not be read.

I will remove the git clone and re-run the apt version later and put in more steps to get to a High 90’s Lynis score.

More

Read the official documentation https://cisofy.com/documentation/lynis/

Next: This guide will investigate the enterprise version of https://cisofy.com/pricing/ soon.

Hope this helps. If I have missed something please let me know on Twitter at @FearbySoftware

Donate and make this blog better



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