Administrator idle timeout above 15 minutes
At a glance
Base severity
Area
Platform
Evidence level
Benchmark reference
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
A long idle timeout leaves an unattended session usable by whoever reaches the workstation.
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.
- Set admintimeout to 15 or less under config system global.
Command line
FortiOS CLI
config system globalset admintimeout 15end
An example. Values in angle brackets are yours to supply; a finding on your own export fills in the names it read. FortiOS saves a change when you type next or end, with no separate commit. Read every line first.
Read it back
show system globalBefore you type it2
- Written from the FortiOS CLI Reference, not yet run on a device. Read each line before typing it.
- On a device with VDOMs, type these inside the VDOM (config vdom, edit the VDOM) or inside config global for a global setting.
How to confirm the fix
- Confirm an idle session is closed after the new timeout.
Limits
- A setting the backup does not write is read as FortiOS's documented default for the device's release.
Compliance references
CIS FortiGate 7.4.x Benchmark v1.0.1
Covers part of the recommendation
Where a control aligns with a recommendation of the CIS FortiGate 7.4.x Benchmark v1.0.1, that recommendation is cited as a reference. Only that version was checked. A reference is not a certification.
More in Administrators and Access
- FGT-SEC-013HTTP or Telnet administration allowed on an interface
- FGT-SEC-014Administrator may log in from any address
- FGT-SEC-015Default administrator account admin is present
- FGT-SEC-017Administration listens on the default ports
- FGT-SEC-019Administration accepts TLS below 1.2
- FMG-SEC-001FortiManager administrator may log in from any address
- FMG-SEC-002Local FortiManager administrator without a second factor
- FMG-SEC-003HTTP or Telnet administration allowed on a FortiManager interface
See it on your own firewall
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