STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 9 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

The x86 Ctrl-Alt-Delete key sequence must be disabled on RHEL 9.

DISA Rule

SV-257785r1044833_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-257785

Group Title

SRG-OS-000324-GPOS-00125

Rule Version

RHEL-09-211050

Severity

CAT I

CCI(s)

• CCI-002235 - Prevent non-privileged users from executing privileged functions.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure RHEL 9 to disable the ctrl-alt-del.target with the following command:

$ sudo systemctl disable --now ctrl-alt-del.target
$ sudo systemctl mask --now ctrl-alt-del.target

Check Contents

Verify RHEL 9 is not configured to reboot the system when Ctrl-Alt-Delete is pressed with the following command:

$ sudo systemctl status ctrl-alt-del.target

ctrl-alt-del.target
Loaded: masked (Reason: Unit ctrl-alt-del.target is masked.)
Active: inactive (dead)

If the "ctrl-alt-del.target" is loaded and not masked, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-257785

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-09-211050

Severity Override Guidance

Verify RHEL 9 is not configured to reboot the system when Ctrl-Alt-Delete is pressed with the following command:

$ sudo systemctl status ctrl-alt-del.target

ctrl-alt-del.target
Loaded: masked (Reason: Unit ctrl-alt-del.target is masked.)
Active: inactive (dead)

If the "ctrl-alt-del.target" is loaded and not masked, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5551