Automated Security Hardening for Ubuntu Server

Today, I am looking at a set of security scripts, which harden Ubuntu Server (20.04 or 22.04). Hardening is the process to change the system configuration in order to meet the basic set of compliance standards. In this example we will receive our compliance information from lynis, CIS and the DISA STIG. There are several things to discuss before jumping into the video.

WARNING: Never try a new automation script on production servers without first testing it in a controlled lab on test equipment! - you have been warned

First, how do we know what we need to change on our systems in order to bring it into compliance with various agency and regulatory standards. The first is the tool set provided by: https://github.com/konstruktoid/hardening

Second, Once we have applied the changes to our system, how do we know we have met the standards we are trying to comply with? https://www.open-scap.org/

Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) is a method for using specific standards to help organizations automate vulnerability management and policy compliance evaluation. SCAP comprises numerous open security standards, as well as applications which use these standards to check systems for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.

One of the compliance files is called a STIG or A Security Technical Implementation Guide is a configuration standard consisting of cybersecurity requirements for a specific product. These are usually crafted for a specific operating system and version such as Ubuntu 20.04, RedHat 8, etc.

One other method of security validation I did not show is CIS Ubuntu Security Benchmark and you can find more information here: https://www.cisecurity.org/benchmark/ubuntu_linux

00:00 - Intro 00:28 - Preparations 01:31 - Setup the Server 06:40 - Change ubuntu.cfg 08:56 - running the ubuntu.sh script 09:38 - validating the changes 11:17 - Running a few tests (768) 14:46 - OpenSCAP Run 16:19 - SCAP Analysis 21:17 - Final Thoughts 22:12 - Outro

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