Unattended or automatic logon via the RHEL 8 graphical user interface must not be allowed.

STIG ID: RHEL-08-010820  |  SRG: SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00229 | Severity: high |  CCI: CCI-000366

Vulnerability Discussion

Failure to restrict system access to authenticated users negatively impacts operating system security.

Check

Verify the operating system does not allow an unattended or automatic logon to the system via a graphical user interface.

Note: This requirement assumes the use of the RHEL 8 default graphical user interface, Gnome Shell. If the system does not have any graphical user interface installed, this requirement is Not Applicable.

Check for the value of the "AutomaticLoginEnable" in the "/etc/gdm/custom.conf" file with the following command:

$ sudo grep -i automaticloginenable /etc/gdm/custom.conf

AutomaticLoginEnable=false

If the value of "AutomaticLoginEnable" is not set to "false", this is a finding.

Fix

Configure the operating system to not allow an unattended or automatic logon to the system via a graphical user interface.

Add or edit the line for the "AutomaticLoginEnable" parameter in the [daemon] section of the "/etc/gdm/custom.conf" file to "false":

[daemon]
AutomaticLoginEnable=false