Profile Applicability:
 • Level 1

Description:
The xinetd service is an extended internet service daemon that manages incoming network connections. If not required, disabling xinetd reduces the attack surface by preventing unnecessary network services from running.

Rationale:
 Disabling unused xinetd services limits potential entry points for attackers and enhances system security.

Impact:
 Pros:

  • Minimizes unnecessary network services.

  • Reduces system exposure to potential exploits.

Cons:

  • Disabling xinetd may disrupt services relying on it.

Default Value:
 xinetd service may be enabled or running by default on some systems.

Pre-requisites:

  • Root or sudo privileges to manage system services.

Remediation:

Test Plan:

Using Linux command line:

1. Check if xinetd service is enabled:

systemctl is-enabled xinetd

2. Check if xinetd service is running:

systemctl status xinetd

Implementation Plan:

Using Linux command line:

1. Disable the xinetd service:

systemctl disable xinetd

2. Stop the running xinetd service:

systemctl stop xinetd

3. Verify the service is disabled and stopped:

systemctl is-enabled xinetd  
systemctl status xinetd

Backout Plan:

Using Linux command line:

1. Enable and start the xinetd service if needed:

systemctl enable xinetd  
systemctl start xinetd

2. Verify service status.

References:

  • CIS Amazon Linux 2 Benchmark v3.0.0

  • Systemd Service Management