Any X Windows host must write .Xauthority files.

Severity	Group ID	Group Title	Version	Rule ID	Date	STIG Version
medium	V-216073	SRG-OS-000480	SOL-11.1-020500	SV-216073r959010_rule	2024-11-25	3

Description
.Xauthority files ensure the user is authorized to access the specific X Windows host. If .Xauthority files are not used, it may be possible to obtain unauthorized access to the X Windows host.

ℹ️ Check
If X Display Manager (XDM) is not used on the system, this is not applicable. Determine if XDM is running. Procedure: # ps -ef \| grep xdm If X Display Manager (XDM) is not used on the system, this is not applicable. Determine if XDM is running. Procedure: # ps -ef \| grep xdm Check for .Xauthority files being utilized by looking for such files in the home directory of a user that uses X. Procedure: # cd ~someuser # ls -la .Xauthority If the .Xauthority file does not exist, ask the SA if the user is using X Windows. If the user is utilizing X Windows and the .Xauthority file does not exist, this is a finding.

ℹ️ Check

If X Display Manager (XDM) is not used on the system, this is not applicable. Determine if XDM is running. Procedure: # ps -ef | grep xdm If X Display Manager (XDM) is not used on the system, this is not applicable. Determine if XDM is running. Procedure: # ps -ef | grep xdm Check for .Xauthority files being utilized by looking for such files in the home directory of a user that uses X. Procedure: # cd ~someuser # ls -la .Xauthority If the .Xauthority file does not exist, ask the SA if the user is using X Windows. If the user is utilizing X Windows and the .Xauthority file does not exist, this is a finding.

✔️ Fix
Ensure the X Windows host is configured to write .Xauthority files into user home directories. Edit the Xaccess file. Ensure the line that writes the .Xauthority file is uncommented.