The graphical desktop environment must automatically lock after 15 minutes of inactivity and the system must require user reauthentication to unlock the environment.

From Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-000057

SV-50431r3_rule The graphical desktop environment must automatically lock after 15 minutes of inactivity and the system must require user reauthentication to unlock the environment.

Vulnerability discussion

Enabling idle activation of the screen saver ensures the screensaver will be activated after the idle delay. Applications requiring continuous, real-time screen display (such as network management products) require the login session does not have administrator rights and the display station is located in a controlled-access area.

Check content

If the GConf2 package is not installed, this is not applicable. To check the screensaver mandatory use status, run the following command: $ gconftool-2 --direct --config-source xml:readwrite:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.mandatory --get /apps/gnome-screensaver/idle_activation_enabled If properly configured, the output should be "true". If it is not, this is a finding.

Fix text

Run the following command to activate the screensaver in the GNOME desktop after a period of inactivity: # gconftool-2 --direct \ --config-source xml:readwrite:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.mandatory \ --type bool \ --set /apps/gnome-screensaver/idle_activation_enabled true

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