IBM AIX
TMA-AIX-4.3.4.5
Ensure discard daemon is not in use
Description
This entry starts the discard service when required. This service is used as a debugging tool by setting up a listening socket which ignores the data it receives. The discard service is used as a debugging and measurement tool. It sets up a listening socket and ignores data that it receives. This is a /dev/null service and is obsolete. This can be used in DoS attacks and therefore, must be disabled. Audit: `lssrc -s inetd -l` must not list the service (count 0).
How it is checked
Audit method: Shell command
command -v lssrc >/dev/null 2>&1 || exit 1; n=$(lssrc -s inetd -l 2>/dev/null | grep -c 'discard'); echo "$n"- Expected output
0
How it is fixed
Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch
In /etc/inetd.conf, comment out the discard entry and refresh the inetd process: chsubserver -r inetd -C /etc/inetd.conf -d -v 'discard' -p udp lssrc -s inetd && refresh -s inetd
Properties
- Operating systems
- Any
- Tags
- aixservices
- Reference
- CIS IBM AIX 7 Benchmark v1.2.0 - 4.3.4.5 Ensure discard daemon is not in use
Check this host
Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.
tmaegis scan --target aix