TOSS 5 must not forward IPv4 source-routed packets by default.

Severity
Group ID
Group Title
Version
Rule ID
Date
STIG Version
mediumV-282691SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227TOSS-05-000219SV-282691r1201053_rule2026-04-011

Description

Source-routed packets allow the source of the packet to suggest routers forward the packet along a different path than configured on the router, which can be used to bypass network security measures. Accepting source-routed packets in the IPv4 protocol has few legitimate uses. It must be disabled unless it is absolutely required, such as when IPv4 forwarding is enabled and the system is legitimately functioning as a router.

ℹ️ Check

Verify TOSS 5 does not accept IPv4 source-routed packets by default using the following command: $ sudo sysctl net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_source_route net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_source_route = 0 If the returned line does not have a value of "0", a line is not returned, this is a finding.

✔️ Fix

Configure TOSS 5 to not forward IPv4 source-routed packets by default. Add or edit the following line in a single system configuration file, in the "/etc/sysctl.d/" directory: net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_source_route = 0 Load settings from all system configuration files using the following command: $ sudo sysctl --system