The graphical desktop environment must set the idle timeout to no more than 15 minutes.

From Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-000057

SV-50430r3_rule The graphical desktop environment must set the idle timeout to no more than 15 minutes.

Vulnerability discussion

Setting the idle delay controls when the screensaver will start, and can be combined with screen locking to prevent access from passersby.

Check content

If the GConf2 package is not installed, this is not applicable. To check the current idle time-out value, run the following command: $ gconftool-2 --direct --config-source xml:readwrite:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.mandatory --get /apps/gnome-screensaver/idle_delay If properly configured, the output should be "15". If it is not, this is a finding.

Fix text

Run the following command to set the idle time-out value for inactivity in the GNOME desktop to 15 minutes: # gconftool-2 \ --direct \ --config-source xml:readwrite:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.mandatory \ --type int \ --set /apps/gnome-screensaver/idle_delay 15

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