TOSS 5 must not forward Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) source-routed packets by default.

Severity
Group ID
Group Title
Version
Rule ID
Date
STIG Version
mediumV-282704SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227TOSS-05-000232SV-282704r1201359_rule2026-04-011

Description

Source-routed packets allow the source of the packet to suggest that routers forward the packet along a different path than configured on the router, which can be used to bypass network security measures. This requirement applies only to the forwarding of source-routed traffic, such as when forwarding is enabled and the system is functioning as a router. Accepting source-routed packets in the IPv6 protocol has few legitimate uses. It must be disabled unless it is absolutely required.

ℹ️ Check

Verify TOSS 5 does not accept IPv6 source-routed packets by default. Note: If IPv6 is disabled on the system, this requirement is not applicable. Check the value of the accept source route variable using the following command: $ sudo sysctl net.ipv6.conf.default.accept_source_route net.ipv6.conf.default.accept_source_route = 0 If the returned line does not have a value of "0", or a line is not returned, this is a finding.

✔️ Fix

Configure TOSS 5 to not forward IPv6 source-routed packets by default. Add or edit the following line in a single system configuration file, in the "/etc/sysctl.d/" directory: net.ipv6.conf.default.accept_source_route = 0 Load settings from all system configuration files using the following command: $ sudo sysctl --system