STIGQter: STIG Summary: PostgreSQL 9.x Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 1 Benchmark Date: 23 Oct 2020:

PostgreSQL must enforce authorized access to all PKI private keys stored/utilized by PostgreSQL.

DISA Rule

SV-214136r508027_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-214136

Group Title

SRG-APP-000176-DB-000068

Rule Version

PGS9-00-010200

Severity

CAT I

CCI(s)

• CCI-000186 - The information system, for PKI-based authentication, enforces authorized access to the corresponding private key.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Note: The following instructions use the PGDATA and PGVER environment variables. See supplementary content APPENDIX-F for instructions on configuring PGDATA and APPENDIX-H for PGVER.

Store all PostgreSQL PKI private keys in a FIPS 140-2-validated cryptographic module.

Ensure access to PostgreSQL PKI private keys is restricted to only authenticated and authorized users. 

PostgreSQL private key(s) can be stored in $PGDATA directory, which is only accessible by the database owner (usually postgres, DBA) user. Do not allow access to this system account to unauthorized users. 

To put the keys in a different directory, as the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), set the following settings to a protected directory: 

$ sudo su - postgres 
$ vi ${PGDATA?}/postgresql.conf 
ssl_ca_file = "/some/protected/directory/root.crt" 
ssl_crl_file = "/some/protected/directory/root.crl" 
ssl_cert_file = "/some/protected/directory/server.crt" 
ssl_key_file = "/some/protected/directory/server.key" 

Now, as the system administrator, restart the server with the new configuration: 

# SYSTEMD SERVER ONLY 
$ sudo systemctl restart postgresql-${PGVER?}

# INITD SERVER ONLY 
$ sudo service postgresql-${PGVER?} restart 

For more information on configuring PostgreSQL to use SSL, see supplementary content APPENDIX-G.

Check Contents

First, as the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), verify the following settings:

Note: If no specific directory given before the filename, the files are stored in PGDATA.

$ sudo su - postgres
$ psql -c "SHOW ssl_ca_file"
$ psql -c "SHOW ssl_cert_file"
$ psql -c "SHOW ssl_crl_file"
$ psql -c "SHOW ssl_key_file"

If the directory these files are stored in is not protected, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-214136

Documentable

False

Rule Version

PGS9-00-010200

Severity Override Guidance

First, as the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), verify the following settings:

Note: If no specific directory given before the filename, the files are stored in PGDATA.

$ sudo su - postgres
$ psql -c "SHOW ssl_ca_file"
$ psql -c "SHOW ssl_cert_file"
$ psql -c "SHOW ssl_crl_file"
$ psql -c "SHOW ssl_key_file"

If the directory these files are stored in is not protected, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

3994

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