Profile Applicability:
• Level 1
Description:
iptables is a user-space utility program that allows a system administrator to configure the IP packet filter rules of the Linux kernel firewall. Ensuring iptables is installed is critical for managing firewall rules and enhancing system security.
Rationale:
Having iptables installed allows for proper configuration of firewall rules to control network traffic, prevent unauthorized access, and protect against attacks.
Impact:
Pros:
Enables effective network traffic filtering and firewall management.
Supports compliance with security policies.
Cons:
Installing iptables alone does not configure the firewall; rules must be properly set.
Default Value:
iptables may not be installed by default depending on the Linux distribution.
Pre-requisites:
Root or sudo privileges to install packages.
Remediation:
Test Plan:
Using Linux command line:
1. Check if iptables is installed:
rpm -q iptables
2. Confirm the package presence.
Implementation Plan:
Using Linux command line:
Install iptables if missing:
yum install iptables -y
- Verify installation:
iptables --version
Backout Plan:
Using Linux command line:
Remove iptables if required:
yum remove iptables -y
Confirm removal.
References:
CIS Amazon Linux 2 Benchmark v3.0.0
iptables Documentation