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ASA-MGT-019MediumCisco ASACIS 1.4.2.1

Management logins not on TACACS+ or RADIUS

At a glance

Base severity

Medium

Area

Identity and Authentication

Platform

Cisco ASA

Evidence level

Fact1.00

Benchmark reference

CIS 1.4.2.1

Reads the export, not the device

ConfigProof reads a configuration export. This control is evaluated against the objects in that file, and it reports what the file says. It does not connect to the device and sees no traffic, so a finding here describes the configuration, not what the firewall is doing right now.

Why it matters

Without central AAA there is no per-person account, no central revocation and no shared audit of who logged in.

How to fix it

Web interface

The steps below are written for the web interface. A finding raised on your own export carries the same steps with your object names filled in.

  1. In ASDM: Configuration > Device Management > Users/AAA > AAA Server Groups, add a TACACS+ or RADIUS group, then AAA Access > Authentication, enable HTTP/ASDM, SSH, Serial and Enable with the group and LOCAL. Apply and save.
  2. On the CLI: aaa-server <group> protocol tacacs+, aaa-server <group> (<nameif>) host <server> key <key>, aaa authentication ssh console <group> LOCAL and aaa authentication http console <group> LOCAL, then write memory.

Command line

Cisco ASA CLI

configure terminalaaa-server <server-group> protocol tacacs+aaa-server <server-group> (<nameif>) host <server>key <key>exitaaa authentication ssh console <server-group> LOCALaaa authentication http console <server-group> LOCALendwrite memory

An example. Values in angle brackets are yours to supply; a finding on your own export fills in the names it read. Typed in configuration mode; write memory saves it, with no separate commit. Read every line first.

Read it back

show running-config aaashow aaa-server <server-group>
Values to fill in4
<server-group>
The TACACS+ or RADIUS server group
<nameif>
The interface name (nameif)
<server>
The AAA server's address
<key>
A new shared key
Before you type it3
  • Written from the ASA 9.x command reference and not run on a device: read each line before you paste it.
  • In multiple context mode, type it in the context it applies to (changeto context <name>).
  • Confirm your own session is not using the service you are turning off.

How to confirm the fix

  • Log in through the group before relying on it.

Limits

  • No limitation is recorded for this control beyond the one that applies to all of them: it reads a configuration export.

Compliance references

1.4.2.1

CIS Cisco ASA 9.x Firewall Benchmark v1.1.0

Covers part of the recommendation

Where a control aligns with a recommendation of the CIS Cisco ASA 9.x Firewall Benchmark v1.1.0, that recommendation is cited as a reference. Only that version was checked. A reference is not a certification.

See it on your own firewall

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