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1.7.2 Ensure GDM login banner is configured

Audit#

Run the following commands to verify that the text banner on the login screen is enabled and set:

#gsettings get org.gnome.login-screen banner-message-enable
true

# gsettings get org.gnome.login-screen banner-message-text
'Authorized uses only. All activity may be monitored and reported'

Remediation#

- IF - A user profile is already created run the following commands to set and enable the text banner message on the login screen:

# gsettings set org.gnome.login-screen banner-message-text 'Authorized uses only. All activity may be monitored and reported'
# gsettings set org.gnome.login-screen banner-message-enable true

Note: - banner-message-text may be set in accordance with local site policy - gsettings commands in this section MUST be done from a command window on a graphical desktop or an error will be returned. - The system must be restarted after all gsettings configurations have been set in order for CIS-CAT Assessor to appropriately assess. - If the dconf database is not updating correctly due to umask requirements contain in the benchmark, then use (umask 0022 && gsetting set) commands from above to temporarily set umask ensuring that any files or directories created by gsettings will have the required permissions.

- OR/IF - A user profile does not exist: 1. Create or edit the gdm profile in the /etc/dconf/profile/gdm with the following lines:

user-db:user
system-db:gdm
file-db:/usr/share/gdm/greeter-dconf-defaults
Note: gdm is the name of a dconf database.

  1. Create a gdm keyfile for machine-wide settings in /etc/dconf/db/gdm.d/01-banner-message:

    org/gnome/login-screen]
    banner-message-enable=true
    banner-message-text='Type the banner message here.'
    

  2. Update the system databases

    # dconf update
    
    Note:

  3. Users must log out and back in again before the system-wide settings take effect.
  4. There is no character limit for the banner message. gnome-shell autodetects longer stretches of text and enters two column mode.
  5. The banner message cannot be read from an external file

Default Value: disabled