- Goal
- Background Information
- Securing Sun Fire Domains
- Verifying Domain Hardening
- Related Resources
Like this article? We recommend
Like this article? We recommend
Like this article? We recommend
Securing Sun Fire Domains
Building a secure system requires that entry points into the system be limited and restricted, in addition to limiting how authorized users obtain privileges. To effectively secure Sun Fire domains, changes are required to the Solaris OE software running on Sun Fire domains.
To secure Sun Fire domains, perform the following:
"Adding Security Software" on page 15
"Customizing the Solaris Security Toolkit Driver" on page 21 (optional)
"Overriding Solaris Security Toolkit Defaults" on page 23 (optional)
"Installing Downloaded Software and Implementing Modifications" on page 24
Adding Security Software
The first stage in hardening Sun Fire domains requires downloading and installing additional software security packages. This section covers the following tasks:
"Install Solaris Security Toolkit Software" on page 16
"Download Recommended Patch Cluster Software" on page 17
"Download FixModes Software" on page 18
"Download OpenSSH Software" on page 19
"Download the MD5 Software" on page 20
NOTE
Of the software described in this section, the Solaris Security Toolkit, Recommended and Security Patch Cluster, FixModes, and MD5 software are required. On Solaris 9 OE systems, the version of Secure Shell bundled with the OE can be used instead of OpenSSH. Also, on both Solaris 8 OE and Solaris 9 OE systems, a commercial version of Secure Shell can be used. You must install a Secure Shell product on Sun Fire domains.
Install Solaris Security Toolkit Software
The Solaris Security Toolkit software must be downloaded first, then installed on Sun Fire domains. Later, you'll use the Solaris Security Toolkit software to automate installing other security software and implementing the Solaris OE modifications for hardening the domains.
The primary function of the Solaris Security Toolkit software is to automate and simplify building secured Solaris OE systems based on the recommendations contained in this and other security-related Sun BluePrints OnLine articles.
NOTE
The following instructions use filenames that are correct only for version 0.3.8 and later of the Solaris Security Toolkit software.
To Download Solaris Security Toolkit Software
Download the latest version of the source file.
At the time of this publication, the version is SUNWjass-0.3.8.pkg.Z. The source file is located at:
Extract the source file into a directory on the server by using the uncompress command:
# uncompress SUNWjass-0.3.8.pkg.Z
Install the Solaris Security Toolkit software onto the server by using the pkgadd command:
# pkgadd -d SUNWjass-0.3.8.pkg SUNWjass
Executing this command creates the SUNWjass subdirectory in /opt. This subdirectory contains all Solaris Security Toolkit directories and associated files. The script make-jass-pkg, included in Solaris Security Toolkit software releases since version 0.3, allows administrators to create custom packages using a different installation directory.
Download Recommended Patch Cluster Software
Patches are regularly released by Sun to provide Solaris OE fixes for performance, stability, functionality, and security. It is critical to the security of a system that the most up-to-date patches are installed. Ensure that the latest Solaris OE Recommended and Security Patch Cluster is installed on the Sun Fire domains; this section describes how to download the latest patch cluster.
Downloading the latest patch cluster does not require a SunSolve OnLineSM program support contract.
NOTE
Apply standard best practices to all patch installations. Before installing any patches, evaluate and test them on non-production systems or during scheduled maintenance windows.
To Download Recommended Patch Cluster Software
Download the latest patch from the SunSolve OnLine Web site at:
Click on the Patches link at the top of the left navigation bar.
Select the appropriate Solaris OE version in the Recommended Solaris Patch Clusters box.
In our example, we select Solaris 8 OE.
Select the best download option, either HTTP or FTP, with the associated radio button, then click Go.
A Save As dialog box is displayed in your browser window.
Save the file locally.
Move the file securely to the Sun Fire 12K or 15K domains with the scp command, or ftp if Secure Shell is not available.
The scp command used should be similar to the following:
% scp 8_Recommended.zip sun15-a:/var/tmp
Move the file to the /opt/SUNWjass/Patches directory and uncompress it as follows:
# cd /opt/SUNWjass/Patches # mv /var/tmp/8_Recommended.zip . # unzip 8_Recommended.zip Archive: 8_Recommended.zip creating: 8_Recommended/ inflating: 8_Recommended/CLUSTER_README inflating: 8_Recommended/copyright inflating: 8_Recommended/install_cluster [. . .]
Later, using the Solaris Security Toolkit software, you'll install the patch after downloading all the other security packages.
NOTE
If you do not place the Recommended and Security Patches software into the /opt/SUNWjass/Patches directory, a warning message displays when you execute the Solaris Security Toolkit software.
Download FixModes Software
FixModes is a software package that tightens the default Solaris OE directory and file permissions. Tightening these permissions can significantly improve overall security of Sun Fire domains. More restrictive permissions make it even more difficult for malicious users to gain privileges on a system.
To Download FixModes Software
Download the FixModes pre-compiled binaries from:
http://www.sun.com/blueprints/tools/FixModes_license.html
The FixModes software is distributed as a precompiled and compressed tar file formatted for systems based on SPARC technology. The file name is FixModes.tar.Z.
Once downloaded, move the file securely to the Sun Fire 12K or 15K domains with the scp command, or ftp if Secure Shell is not available.
The scp command used should be similar to the following command:
% scp FixModes.tar.Z sun15-a:/var/tmp
Save the file, FixModes.tar.Z, in the Solaris Security Toolkit Packages directory in /opt/SUNWjass/Packages with the following commands:
# cd /opt/SUNWjass/Packages # mv /var/tmp/FixModes.tar.Z .
CAUTION
Leave the file in its compressed state.
Later, using the Solaris Security Toolkit software, you'll install the FixModes software after downloading all the other security packages.
Download OpenSSH Software
In any secured environment, the use of encryption in combination with strong authentication is required to protect user-interactive sessions. At a minimum, user interactive sessions must be encrypted.
The tool most commonly used to implement encryption is Secure Shell software, whether a commercial or open source (freeware) version. To implement all the security modifications performed by the Solaris Security Toolkit software and recommended in this article, you must implement a Secure Shell software product.
Information on where to obtain commercial versions of Secure Shell is provided in "Related Resources" on page 32.
NOTE
If a domain is running Solaris 9 OE, we recommend that you use the Sun-provided implementation of Secure Shell bundled with the OE. If using the Solaris version of Secure Shell, omit the OpenSSH installation steps in this section.
The Solaris Security Toolkit software disables all non-encrypted user-interactive services and daemons on the system, in particular daemons such as in.rshd, in.telnetd, and in.ftpd.
NOTE
If you choose to use a Secure Shell product other than OpenSSH, install and configure it before or during the Solaris Security Toolkit software run.
Access to the system can be gained with Secure Shell similarly to what is provided by RSH, Telnet, and FTP.
To Download OpenSSH Software
Obtain the following Sun BluePrints online article and use the instructions in the article for downloading the software.
A Sun BluePrints OnLine article about how to compile and deploy OpenSSH titled "Building and Deploying OpenSSH on the Solaris Operating Environment" is available at:
http://www.sun.com/blueprints/0701/openSSH.pdf
Later, using the Solaris Security Toolkit software, you'll install the OpenSSH software after downloading all the other security packages.
CAUTION
Do not compile OpenSSH or install compilers on Sun Fire 12K or 15K domains just to compile OpenSSH. Use a separate Solaris OE system—running the same Solaris OE version, architecture, and mode (for example, Solaris 8 OE, Sun4U, and 64 bit)—to compile OpenSSH. If you implement the Secure Shell bundled with Solaris 9 OE or a commercial version of Secure Shell, then no compilation is required.
Download the MD5 Software
The MD5 software validates MD5 digital fingerprints on the Sun Fire domains. Validating the integrity of Solaris OE binaries provides a robust mechanism to detect system binaries that are altered or trojaned (hidden inside something that appears safe) by unauthorized users. By modifying system binaries, attackers provide themselves with back-door access onto a system; they hide their presence and cause systems to operate in unstable manners.
To Download the MD5 Software
Download the MD5 binaries from the following web site:
http://www.sun.com/blueprints/tools/md5_license.html
The MD5 programs are distributed as a compressed tar file.
Move the file md5.tar.Z securely to the Sun Fire 12K or 15K domains with the scp command, or ftp if scp is not available.
The scp command used should be similar to the following
% scp md5.tar.Z sun15-a:/var/tmp
Copy the file, md5.tar.Z, to the Solaris Security Toolkit Packages directory in /opt/SUNWjass/Packages.
CAUTION
Do not uncompress the tar archive.
After the MD5 software is saved to the /opt/SUNWjass/Packages directory, the execution of the Solaris Security Toolkit installs the software.
After the MD5 binaries are installed, you can use them to verify the integrity of executables on the system through the Solaris Fingerprint Database. More information on the Solaris Fingerprint Database is available in the Sun BluePrints OnLine article titled "The Solaris_ Fingerprint Database - A Security Tool for Solaris Software and Files."
(Optional) Download and install Solaris Fingerprint Database Companion and Solaris Fingerprint Database Sidekick software from the SunSolve Online web site at:
We strongly recommend that you install these optional tools and use them with the MD5 software. These tools simplify the process of validating system binaries against the database of MD5 checksums. Use these tools frequently to validate the integrity of the Solaris OE binaries and files on the cluster nodes.
These tools are described in the "The Solaris_ Fingerprint Database - A Security Tool for Solaris Software and Files" article.
Customizing the Solaris Security Toolkit Driver
If you determine that your system requires some of the services and daemons disabled by the Solaris Security Toolkit, or you want to enable any of the inactive scripts available in the Solaris Security Toolkit, do so before executing the Solaris Security Toolkit.
As discussed earlier in this article, the SMS 1.2 software provides new capabilities for securing the MAN network which are as follows:
Disable ARP on the MAN network.
Disable all I1 IP traffic for one or more domains.
Disabling all I1 IP traffic to domains can only be done on the SC. Refer to the BluePrint OnLine article titled "Securing Sun Fire 12K and 15K System Controllers, Updated for SMS 1.2" for details on how this is done.
Disabling ARP on the MAN network can only be done for an entire chassis. It is not possible to make this change only for certain domains. It must be done on all domains having IP connectivity to the I1 network.
Using the Solaris Security Toolkit to disable ARP on the domains requires modifications to the default files distributed with the Solaris Security Toolkit.
NOTE
We recommend that the SCs be secured first, particularly when implementing static ARP between the SCs and domains. If the SCs are not secured and validated, do not proceed with implementing static ARP. Complete the hardening process of the SCs first.
To Disable ARP on the I1 MAN Network
To add the necessary features or customize the hardening required for your system, edit a copy of the sunfire_15k_sc-hardening.driver file:.
# cd /opt/SUNWjass/Drivers # vi sunfire_15k_sc-hardening.driver
CAUTION
To preserve your changes for future updates and prevent the Solaris Security Toolkit from overriding your changes, modify only a copy of the driver. Keep the original Solaris Security Toolkit driver as a master.
If ARP is being disabled on the I1 MAN network, uncomment s15k-static-arp.fin from the driver by removing the # symbol in front of the script.
After you edit the line, it should appear as follows in the JASS_SCRIPTS definition:
s15k-static-arp.fin
Review the floating IP Address and matching MAC address of the SC in the sms_domain_arp file.
This file is in the /opt/SUNWjass/Files/etc directory. The Solaris Security Toolkit uses the following initial values in this file:
192.168.103.1 08:00:20:63:49:1e
If your site configuration for the MAN network uses a different floating IP address for the SC, replace the 192.168.103.1 value with your IP floating address.
If your site configuration requires a different MAC address than the initial 08:00:20:63:49:1e value, replace it with the MAC address that matches the floating IP address on all domains and both SCs.
All the domains must use the same /etc/sms_domain_arp file.
CAUTION
The floating IP address in this file must match the IP address chosen as the floating IP address for the SC on the I1 MAN network. Any mismatches will cause MAN network failures. These failures can adversely affect the reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) of the platform.
Reboot the domains to implement the modified settings.
You must reboot the domains for these settings to take effect.
Overriding Solaris Security Toolkit Defaults
If there are some services that must remain enabled, and the Solaris Security Toolkit automatically disables them, you can override the defaults before executing the driver.
To prevent the toolkit from disabling a service, comment out the call to the appropriate finish script in the driver.
For example, if your environment requires Network File System (NFS)-based services, you can leave them enabled. Comment out the disable-nfs-server.fin and disable-rpc.fin scripts by appending a # sign before them in the copy of the sunfire_15k_domain-hardening.driver script.
For more information about editing and creating driver scripts, refer to the Sun BluePrints OnLine article titled "The Solaris™ Security Toolkit - Installation, Configuration, and Usage Guide: Updated for version 0.3."
Installing Downloaded Software and Implementing Modifications
The Solaris Security Toolkit version 0.3.8 and later provides a driver (sunfire_15k_domain-secure.driver) for automating the installation of security software and Solaris OE modifications. The driver performs the following tasks:
Installs and executes the FixModes software to tighten file system permission
Installs the MD5 software
Installs the Recommended and Security Patch Cluster software
Implements almost 100 Solaris OE security modifications
NOTE
The actions performed by each of the scripts is described in the Sun BluePrints OnLine article "The Solaris Security Toolkit - Internals: Updated for Version 0.3." The hardening described is performed in standalone mode, not JumpStart mode, because the Sun Fire domains were built using an interactive Solaris OE installation. For details on the differences between standalone mode and JumpStart mode, refer to the Solaris Security Toolkit documentation.
During the installation and modifications implemented in this section, all non-encrypted access mechanisms to Sun Fire domains —such as Telnet, RSH, and FTP—are disabled. The hardening steps do not disable console access from Sun Fire 12K or 15K SCs.
To Install Downloaded Software and Implement Changes
Execute the sunfire_15k_domain-secure.driver script as follows:
# cd /opt/SUNWjass # ./jass-execute -d sunfire_15k_domain-secure.driver ./jass-execute: NOTICE: Executing driver, sunfire_15k_domain-secure.driver ============================================================ sunfire_15k_domain-secure.driver: Driver started. ============================================================ [...]
To View the Contents of the Driver File
To view the contents of the driver file and obtain information about the Solaris OE modifications, refer to the Solaris Security Toolkit documentation available either in the /opt/SUNWjass/Documentation directory or through the web at:
For information about other scripts in the Solaris Security Toolkit software, refer to the Sun BluePrints OnLine article titled "Solaris Security Toolkit Internals: Updated for Version 0.3."
To Undo a Solaris Security Toolkit Run
Each Solaris Security Toolkit run creates a run directory in /var/opt/SUNWjass/run. The names of these directories are based on the date and time the run is initiated. In addition to displaying the output to the console, the Solaris Security Toolkit software creates a log file in the /var/opt/SUNWjass/run directory.
CAUTION
Do not modify the contents of the /var/opt/SUNWjass/run directories under any circumstances. Modifying the files can corrupt the contents and cause unexpected errors when you use Solaris Security Toolkit software features such as undo.
The files stored in the /var/opt/SUNWjass/run directory track modifications performed on the system and enable the jass-execute undo feature.
To undo a run or series of runs, use the jass-execute -u command.
For example, on a system where seven separate Solaris Security Toolkit runs are performed, you could undo them by using the following command and options:
# pwd /opt/SUNWjass # ./jass-execute -u Please select from one of these backups to restore to 1. December 10, 2001 at 19:45:15 (//var/opt/SUNWjass/run/20011210194515) 2. December 10, 2001 at 19:25:22 (//var/opt/SUNWjass/run/20011210192522) 3. December 10, 2001 at 19:07:32 (//var/opt/SUNWjass/run/20011210190732) 4. December 10, 2001 at 19:04:36 (//var/opt/SUNWjass/run/20011210190436) 5. December 10, 2001 at 18:30:35 (//var/opt/SUNWjass/run/20011210183035) 6. December 10, 2001 at 18:29:48 (//var/opt/SUNWjass/run/20011210182948) 7. December 10, 2001 at 18:27:44 (//var/opt/SUNWjass/run/20011210182744) 8. Restore from all of them Choice? 8 ./jass-execute: NOTICE: Restoring to previous run //var/opt/SUNWjass/run/20011210194515 =============================================================== undo.driver: Driver started. =============================================================== [...]
Refer to the Solaris Security Toolkit documentation for details on the capabilities and options available in the jass-execute command.
NOTE
Software installations and actions performed by other software are not undone by the Solaris Security Toolkit undo feature. For example, the installation of OpenSSH, FixModes, and MD5 is not undone. In addition, the modifications performed by FixModes are not automatically undone.