Questions tagged [hardening]
the process of tightening security on a system.
271
questions
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Where could we get CIS Hardening Scripts for AWS EC2?
CIS has published hardening standards for all operating systems of EC2 in AWS.
CIS also provides hardened images as well but they're quite expensive at $130/year/instance.
Is there a place where we ...
0
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1answer
66 views
Would it be useful from a security perspective to harden an interpreter like Python or NodeJS by removing support for unused features?
When hardening a system you want to remove any features that you do not need. I have been thinking about this concept from the perspective of interpreters like Python, NodeJS, PHP etc. and am ...
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2answers
105 views
Disable everything but a hidden command for root access
linux security and root access question....
I'm setting up a server that has a validator node running on it for a blockchain. I was trying to harden the security of my server. I set up ufw for all ...
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0answers
51 views
How to only allow whitelisted processes to access a certain file using SElinux?
Let's say you have a important file/folder, and want to only allow certain processes (based on process name, or its corresponding ELF file on the disk, or the digital signature of the corresponding ...
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1answer
110 views
Is it possible to protect browser credentials from malicious processes?
What items should be considered to create a browser that prevents all access to stored credentials by a malicious process? Hardware attacks being out of scope.
Are there public projects addressing ...
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0answers
44 views
SECCOMP inside a docker container adds an extra layer of security?
Does hardening with SECCOMP a binary running inside a Docker container brings extra security? I can find many articles/papers about hardening the container itself but very few things about hardening ...
1
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1answer
263 views
How should GNU/Linux noobs harden their dekstop OS?
I'm interested in using GNU/Linux for different reasons. Partly for freedom, privacy, and security. But also to force myself to learn Linux. One issue I’ve found is that desktop Linux seems to have ...
2
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0answers
216 views
How to harden portable Tor Browser installation (SELinux, sandbox)?
tldr
How can I define a SELinux policy, that limits filesystem access of portable Tor Browser to its installation directory, say /home/user/.local/opt/tor-browser_en-US?
How might Tor Browser be ...
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19 views
How to recover a hacked site with WSO Shell [duplicate]
Recently wordpress site on centos 7 server is hacked and WSO shell was uploaded.
Ive checked other sites and nothing was changed, Im using centos web panel and the root password also was not changed.
...
2
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1answer
143 views
How do I compare the safety of a compiled program with optimization flag?
I would like to know how I can know which is the safest compilation line, that is:
Having several compilation lines in, for example, GCC, how do I know which one is more secure? Hardening would be a ...
3
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1answer
125 views
How can I improve my sheep dipping process?
Problem:
The hiring department occasionally sends me Word documents asking to clear the file as "safe" to open and review for purposes like resumes etc.; they can come from anywhere and are ...
0
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2answers
389 views
Does VNC need hardening when inside LAN (home network)?
This is a very newbie question, but I would just like to make sure that I'm not missing anything: If I connect via VNC protocol to my various servers etc. inside my own LAN (home network), then should ...
0
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1answer
136 views
what are the best counter measures against reverse engineering of firmware? [closed]
How can I best prevent, that critical commandos (e.g. open garage door) from an IoT device are being reverse engineered from the firmware? Is the following list complete / do you spot any errors? Any ...
0
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1answer
202 views
The level of security regarding a TeamViewer host deployment
I'm a systems specialist in our organization and I've read a lot about TeamViewer security concerns over the last few years. Now I decided to come seek professional and objective opinions about the ...
1
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1answer
617 views
Way to remove rc4 from Linux Cipher Suites
Running this command resulted with the list of ciphers which supports rc4:
/usr/bin/openssl ciphers -v | grep -i "rc4"
What's the easiest way and how to remove specifically ciphers that ...
1
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1answer
108 views
How to implement zero trust concept on a pod running in Kubernetes?
Was thinking to use Ambassador design pattern and filter each request through Nginx with Waf (mod_security or Naxsi) in reverse proxy and ACL, authentication and authorization to pod.
What are the ...
3
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1answer
427 views
Is it possible to run commands that exist only on the host on a docker container?
We would like to harden our Docker Image and remove redundant software from it. Our Devs and Ops asked to keep some Linux tools used for debugging on the containers running on our Kubernetes Prod ...
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2answers
219 views
Secure a virtual machine during a lab exercise
I recently started the Offensive Security AWAE course.
On their connectivity guide page, they warn about the hazards of connecting to their labs:
you will be exposing your computers' VPN IP to other ...
0
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0answers
85 views
Hardening WMI: Any security beneifit to "winmgmt /standalonehost"? [duplicate]
Any security benefit to winmgmt operating outside of shared svchost processes via the command
winmgmt /standalonehost ?
As for security, yes, it is useful for changing wbem Authentication levels, ...
1
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0answers
315 views
Hardening WMI: Any security benefit to changing Impersonation level & separately, setting 'Winmgmt Standalonehost?'
Question #1 Does changing the Default Impersonation Level in WMI to "anonymous" or "identify" help mitigate against WMI exploitation, implants, and persistent threats on a local ...
6
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1answer
991 views
Hardening NFC tags for authentication
So I have a small electronics project where I am using common Mifare Classic 1K NFC tags as a means of authentication. (Mifare DesiFire is just too expensive)
I know these aren't very secure so here ...
1
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2answers
207 views
Setup guide for Privileged Access Workstation on Windows 10
I am setting up a Privileged Access Workstation (PAW) to access a whitelist of websites. Currently I have been following this guide on Github by unassassinable and applying the latest Windows 10 ...
1
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1answer
294 views
My WP site just got hacked for the third time even after following WP hardening guidelines
After the second hack, we did all the necessary things written here - https://wordpress.org/support/article/hardening-wordpress/ , https://security.stackexchange.com/a/180925 and we also changed the ...
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1answer
81 views
How can Linux service installation page create an attack surface?
Based on one of the lectures of Planning, Auditing and Maintaining Enterprise system course by Greg Williams (Department of computer science university of Colorado):
Let's say they were installing ...
2
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2answers
117 views
Does removing features from a library increase or reduce security risks?
Software libraries targetting resource constrained environments like embedded systems use conditional compilation to allow consumers to shave space and thus increase performance by removing unused ...
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0answers
419 views
Secure partitioning: does LVM affect hardening guidelines?
this is the second of a series of questions on hardening Linux servers at the filesystem level. The first is here. The same scenario applies; I copy it here for convenience:
At work I'm hardening an ...
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0answers
424 views
Secure mount options in Ubuntu CIS benchmarks too narrow?
this is the first of a series of questions on hardening Linux servers at the filesystem level.
At work I'm hardening an Ubuntu 18.04 Server following the CIS benchmark 2.0.1. Instead of just running ...
0
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1answer
193 views
How to safely reinstall Windows in Thailand - avoiding BadUSB/SSD
I have newly bought HP Pavilion laptop, which i am planning to nuke and reinstall.
I really do not like the bloatware as it might posses a security risk.
However, in Thailand, i do not trust the ...
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0answers
24 views
Newly bought HP Pavilion laptop - bloatware - security risks [duplicate]
I’ve recently bought a new HP Pavilion laptop, it came with pre-installed software (bloatware) such as various games and other useless stuff.
When setting up the laptop, i was connected to AIS, which ...
1
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1answer
272 views
IIS FTPS Best Practise
I have the task to place an FTP server in the company DMZ for our partners to store sensitive data that can not be sent by mail.
I have chosen the IIS FTPS. I will generate a self-signed certificate ...
0
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1answer
110 views
Restrict privileged users from accessing certain directories on Linux servers with Grsecurity?
My question is similar to these:
Protect sensitive data from sysadmin prying eyes
Restrict access to a specific directory on Linux
From those, I understand that SELinux could accomplish my goal. ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
How to make it harder for a VPS provider to access my data?
I know it is impossible to completely prevent a host from accessing the data of a virtual machine (as noted here, here and here), but I think there is value in making it harder to do so. Bare metal ...
2
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1answer
130 views
Can a VPN provider or actors within its infrastructure access open ports on the client machine?
From my understanding of a VPN, it essentially creates a network between the two 'machines'. So if I have open ports (e.g. HTTP, SSH) on my client machine, those can be accessed by the VPN provider or ...
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0answers
199 views
Tightly locking down a FreeBSD jail
Suppose one is running a single internet-facing daemon, as a service in a FreeBSD jail, and expects targeted hostile attacks targeting open WAN ports and services.
Like many services, the service and ...
2
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0answers
100 views
Implications of adding work account to an android device
Once there's a primary Google account registered on the device and then another work account is added in order to access G Suite of the work place, what are the G Suite administrators are able to ...
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2answers
415 views
How to protect external hard drive from tampering?
I am looking to buy an external 1TB hard drive to store sensitive information on. External hard drives aren't (physically) small, and it may have to be left unattended at times.
What can I do to ...
2
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2answers
2k views
Hardening VM for Malware Analysis
I'm starting out in Malware Research / Malware Analysis. I am reading a book called "Practical Guide to Malware Analysis," which touches this in the 2nd chapter, before approaching Dynamical Analysis (...
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0answers
217 views
How should you configure PowerShell logs permissions?
I'm currently trying to figure out the best way to configure Windows PowerShell logging, so that
it is secure (Attackers cannot gain sensitive data out of it)
it helps in DFIR (digital forensic and ...
0
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1answer
608 views
For security purposes, can I use vpn with ufw to allow traffic only from the vpn on ubuntu?
Is this possible? If not through ufw then some other software or iptables? How should I set up the ip tables?
Assuming my public ip is known (and I don't want to change it), would it provide complete ...
0
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1answer
199 views
Hardening against Nmap and other network scanners
It is possible to make Server respond with irrelevant data if it is scanned with Nmap? If yes, are there any examples of such SW?
1
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1answer
143 views
RHEL7 SSGv0.1 2.2.3 Unauthorized SUID/GUID executables
We are upgrading to RHEL 7.6. My Nessus scanner is giving me the following message:
2.2.3.c-d Mandatory Review Required: Find unauthorized SUID/GUID System Executables
RHEL7 SSGv0.1 2.2.3 Unauthorized ...
2
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1answer
477 views
Why is autofs insecure?
I am hardening CentOS/RHEL 7.6. The hardening documents recommend disabling the automounter, "unless it is necessary."
Why is autofs such a problem?
One of the benefits of networking is a shared file ...
1
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1answer
1k views
Can I use a virtual machine to connect to a public WIFI to use Internet by totally isolating the host from it?
I want to use my laptop to connect to a public WiFi in a library but...
I have strong security in my Windows host machine (comodo firewall using a public network settings and rules, protocols ...
5
votes
2answers
496 views
What are some examples of viruses/exploits with benevolent purposes?
A comment from another user had me thinking. What are some well-known (or perhaps not quite so) examples of in-the-wild "malicious" software that do nothing actually malicious, but instead takes ...
1
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1answer
124 views
Steps to Harden Ancient Gaming Server
I am somewhat administering an old Windows Server 2008 server that is used to host a older Video Game.
It's in such a state that it has tons of custom code on it that run the server and hasn't really ...
3
votes
1answer
976 views
Is zeroing out values on the stack and arguments overkill?
I generally zero out memory the moment it's served its usefulness, but only with heap-allocated chunks. Is it a sin (or overkill) to do the same with arguments and stack values? Thanks in advance.
...
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0answers
79 views
How to protect certain macOS user directory from unauthorized access?
I have several directories on my Mac, two most popular examples are:
~/.aws
~/.ssh
They can be read by any script file or third-party app in system.
I do not see a way to protect them in macOS (...
3
votes
1answer
3k views
CIS hardening of alpine based docker container
I've got a service running inside a docker container. I've built my own image based on nginx:stable-alpine docker image.
I am trying to ascertain whether the concept of CIS hardening applies to the ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
Is it a security risk to run master process of nginx as root?
I'm using nginx (Port 8888) as a reverse proxy for my web server running over 8080. In the traditional way, nginx master process runs as root and spawns the child processes with user www-data. Is it ...
2
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1answer
301 views
Shareable encrypted data in a web application
This is a follow up on my previous question about Storing sensitive, sharable data for a company where several of the employees have access to the server.
This solution has worked well for our ...
