STIGQter: STIG Summary: IBM z/OS TSS Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 9 Release: 9 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

CA-TSS allocate access to system user catalogs must be limited to system programmers only.

DISA Rule

SV-223905r1137691_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-223905

Group Title

SRG-OS-000080-GPOS-00048

Rule Version

TSS0-ES-000320

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-000213 - Enforce approved authorizations for logical access to information and system resources in accordance with applicable access control policies.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Review access authorization to critical system files. Evaluate the impact of correcting the deficiency. Develop a plan of action and implement the changes as required to protect USER CATALOGS.

Configure ESM rules for allocate access to USER CATALOGS, limited to system programmers only, and all allocate access is logged.

Configure ESM rules for the USER CATALOGS to allow any products or procedures system programmer access for system-level maintenance that meet the following specific case:
- The batch job or procedure must be documented in the SITE Security Plan.
- Reside in a data set that is restricted to systems programmers' access only.

Note: If the USER CATALOGS contain SMS managed data sets, READ access is sufficient to allow user operations. If the USER CATALOGS do not contain SMS managed data sets, UPDATE access is required for user operation.

Check Contents

From the ISPF Command Shell enter:
LISTCat USERCATALOG ALL NOPREFIX

Review the ESM data set rules for each usercatalog defined.

If the data set rules for User Catalogs do not restrict ALTER access to only z/OS systems programming personnel, this is a finding.

If products or procedures requiring system programmer access for system-level maintenance meet the following specific case, this is not a finding:
- The batch job or procedure must be documented in the SITE Security Plan.
- Reside in a data set that is restricted to systems programmers' access only.

If the data set rules for User Catalogs do not specify that all (i.e., failures and successes) ALTER access will be logged, this a finding.

Note: If the USER CATALOGS contain SMS managed data sets, READ access is sufficient to allow user operations. If the USER CATALOGS do not contain SMS managed data sets, UPDATE access is required for user operation.

Vulnerability Number

V-223905

Documentable

False

Rule Version

TSS0-ES-000320

Severity Override Guidance

From the ISPF Command Shell enter:
LISTCat USERCATALOG ALL NOPREFIX

Review the ESM data set rules for each usercatalog defined.

If the data set rules for User Catalogs do not restrict ALTER access to only z/OS systems programming personnel, this is a finding.

If products or procedures requiring system programmer access for system-level maintenance meet the following specific case, this is not a finding:
- The batch job or procedure must be documented in the SITE Security Plan.
- Reside in a data set that is restricted to systems programmers' access only.

If the data set rules for User Catalogs do not specify that all (i.e., failures and successes) ALTER access will be logged, this a finding.

Note: If the USER CATALOGS contain SMS managed data sets, READ access is sufficient to allow user operations. If the USER CATALOGS do not contain SMS managed data sets, UPDATE access is required for user operation.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

4102