IBM RACF security data sets and/or databases must be properly protected.

Severity	Group ID	Group Title	Version	Rule ID	Date	STIG Version
high	V-223685	SRG-OS-000080-GPOS-00048	RACF-ES-000370	SV-223685r958472_rule	2025-03-11	9

Description
The External Security Manager (ESM) database files contain all access control information for the operating system environment and system resources. Unauthorized access could result in the compromise of the operating system environment, ACP, and customer data. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000080-GPOS-00048, SRG-OS-000134-GPOS-00068, SRG-OS-000259-GPOS-00100, SRG-OS-000324-GPOS-00125

ℹ️ Check
If the following accesses to the ESM security data sets and/or databases are properly restricted as detailed below, this is not a finding. -The ESM data set rules for ESM security data sets and/or databases restrict READ access to auditors and DASD batch. -The ESM data set rules for ESM security data sets and/or databases restrict READ and/or greater access to z/OS systems programming personnel, security personnel, and/or batch jobs that perform ESM maintenance. All (i.e., failures and successes) data set access authorities (i.e., READ, UPDATE, ALTER, and CONTROL) for ESM security data sets and/or databases are logged.

ℹ️ Check

If the following accesses to the ESM security data sets and/or databases are properly restricted as detailed below, this is not a finding. -The ESM data set rules for ESM security data sets and/or databases restrict READ access to auditors and DASD batch. -The ESM data set rules for ESM security data sets and/or databases restrict READ and/or greater access to z/OS systems programming personnel, security personnel, and/or batch jobs that perform ESM maintenance. All (i.e., failures and successes) data set access authorities (i.e., READ, UPDATE, ALTER, and CONTROL) for ESM security data sets and/or databases are logged.

✔️ Fix
Review access authorization to critical security database files. Evaluate the impact of correcting the deficiency. Develop a plan of action and implement the changes required to protect the ESM files. Configure READ and/or greater access to all ESM files and/or databases are limited to system programmers and/or security personnel, and/or batch jobs that perform ESM maintenance. READ access can be given to auditors and DASD batch. All accesses to ESM files and/or databases are logged.

✔️ Fix

Review access authorization to critical security database files. Evaluate the impact of correcting the deficiency. Develop a plan of action and implement the changes required to protect the ESM files. Configure READ and/or greater access to all ESM files and/or databases are limited to system programmers and/or security personnel, and/or batch jobs that perform ESM maintenance. READ access can be given to auditors and DASD batch. All accesses to ESM files and/or databases are logged.