Full Disclosure: Re: a secure base system

[Ron DuFresne <dufresne () winternet com>]

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004, Jochem Kossen wrote:

> On Mon, Mar 15, 2004 at 12:37:13PM +0100, harry wrote:
> > hi all,
> >
> > i have a little question. i'm asked to set up a base system, which has
> > to be secure. we want a system from which we can easily install a
> > compromised system. so i had a few ideas to make it as secure and yet as
> > usable as possible:
install a compromised system?  This is a forensics box?  then perhaps to
really kppe it secured it should be un-networked, at least when analysis
is beong one.  I'm taking it as a forensics box, you plan on popping in a
DD'ed copy of the drive of the host that was in fact compromised for
analysis?


Ten again, perhaps I'm either mis reading your intentions for the system,
or you mis-stated your desires?

Thanks,

Ron DuFresne

> > - use debian testing (stable is too old, unstable is ... well... you
> > know ;))
> As testing doesn't get security updates (at least, it's not guaranteed),
> IMHO it's a bad point to start with.
>
> > - /var and /tmp mounted nosuid and noexec
> How about /home? and how about nodev? (dunno if Linux has nodev)
>
> > - grsec kernel
> > - use lvm (so you don't need to worry about the sizes af the partitions)
> >
> > - remote logging to our logging server
> >
> > - all this in hardware raid 1 for easy transfer to other systems
> > - iptables with all connections refused (you need physical access to do
> > something)
> > - maybe allow ssh (no root logins)?
> >
> > ==> is this ok, too paranoia or is there somenting i'm missing, and
> > cound it be even more safe?
> It could be more safe definitely. How about OpenBSD? (ye ye i'm
> biased ;), but there are more security oriented solutions around)
>
> > how about a compiler? normally, all soft on it is compiled by hand, but
> > it is also "necessary" for a local exploit.
> If you don't install a compiler, make sure users can't upload
> precompiled compilers :)
>
> > any ideas? remarks?
> It all depends on what you want to do with the system (webserver?
> desktop pc's?)
>
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OK, so you're a Ph.D.  Just don't touch anything.

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