HARDN-XDR

HARDN-XDR Maintenance Playbook

Overview

This playbook provides systematic approaches for fixing and updating HARDN-XDR based on current GitHub issues and ongoing security compliance requirements. HARDN-XDR is now optimized for container and VM deployments with a focus on DISA/FEDHIVE compliance while maintaining desktop compatibility.

Container and VM-First Architecture

Environment Detection and Module Selection

HARDN-XDR automatically detects deployment environments and applies appropriate security hardening:

Module Categories

  1. Essential Container/VM (21 modules): Core DISA/FEDHIVE compliance requirements
  2. Conditional Container/VM (10 modules): Optional security vs performance trade-offs
  3. Desktop-Focused (10 modules): Physical hardware specific (USB, FireWire, GUI sandboxing)

Key Optimizations

Current Issue Inventory and Resolution Plan

Issue #188: Container and VM-First Refactoring (CURRENT)

Status: Completed
Priority: High
Category: Architecture Refactoring

Objectives:

Implementation Summary:

  1. Environment Detection: Added intelligent container/VM detection
  2. Module Categorization:
    • 21 essential modules for DISA/FEDHIVE compliance
    • 10 conditional modules for performance trade-offs
    • 10 desktop-focused modules (skipped in containers/VMs)
  3. Smart Module Selection: Automatic environment-based module selection
  4. Performance Optimization: Reduced overhead in container/VM environments
  5. Documentation Updates: Updated README and playbook for container/VM focus

Benefits:

Issue #182: Build - Copilot Instructions and Playbook

Status: In Progress
Priority: High
Category: Documentation and Infrastructure

Objectives:

Action Items:

  1. Review overall project architecture and security modules
  2. Document best practices for security compliance
  3. Enhance CI workflow for container/VM/desktop headless testing
  4. Create standardized procedures for future maintenance

Issue #177: Missing Function create_scheduled_task

Status: Open
Priority: High
Category: Critical Bug Fix

Problem Analysis:

Resolution Steps:

  1. Locate Function Usage: 
    grep -r "create_scheduled_task" src/setup/modules/
  2. Implement Missing Function: 
    # Add to hardn-common.sh
create_scheduled_task() {
    local task_name="$1"
    local command="$2"
    local schedule="$3"
       
    # Implementation using systemd timers or cron
    # STIG compliance requires proper scheduling mechanisms
}
  3. Testing Protocol:
    • Test in CI environment with SKIP_WHIPTAIL=1
    • Verify on both AMD64 and ARM64 architectures
    • Ensure STIG compliance for scheduled tasks

Issue #175: Security Research Spike - CVE Management

Status: Open
Priority: Medium
Category: Security Research and Patching

CVE Inventory for Debian Bookworm:

Action Plan:

  1. Create CVE Monitoring Module: 
    # src/setup/modules/cve_monitoring.sh
# Automated CVE checking and mitigation
  2. Package Version Validation:
    • Implement automated package version checking
    • Alert on vulnerable package versions
    • Integrate with compliance dashboard
  3. Patch Management Process:
    • Automated security update scheduling
    • Critical patch priority handling
    • Rollback procedures for failed updates

Issue #173: UNC2891 Research Spike - Advanced Threat Detection

Status: Open
Priority: Medium
Category: Threat Research and Detection

Threat Analysis - UNC2891 Banking Malware:

Security Enhancements:

  1. Network Monitoring Hardening: 
    # Enhance src/setup/modules/network_protocols.sh
# Implement network segmentation controls
# Add network traffic monitoring capabilities
  2. Mail Server Security: 
    # Create src/setup/modules/mail_security.sh
# Disable unnecessary mail services
# Implement mail server hardening
  3. Behavioral Analysis Enhancement: 
    # Update src/setup/modules/behavioral_analysis.sh
# Add UNC2891 attack pattern detection
# Implement network pivot detection

Issues #137-138: STIG Compliance Gaps

Status: Open
Priority: High
Category: Compliance Enhancement

Gap Analysis and Resolution:

1. Privileged Access & Sudo Configuration

Current Gap: sudoers file not audited or hardened Resolution:

# Enhance src/setup/modules/credential_protection.sh
# Add sudoers auditing and RBAC enforcement
audit_sudoers_config() {
    # STIG requirement: Restrict sudo access
    # Implement command logging and restrictions
}

2. Service Hardening & Network Daemons

Current Gap: Unused services not explicitly disabled Resolution:

# Update src/setup/modules/service_disable.sh
# Add comprehensive service auditing
disable_insecure_services() {
    # Disable Telnet, NFS, RPC services
    # Implement TCP Wrappers controls
}

3. Time Synchronization Security

Current Gap: NTP lacks authentication Resolution:

# Enhance src/setup/modules/ntp.sh
# Add NTP authentication and security
secure_ntp_config() {
    # Implement symmetric or PKI authentication
    # Add fallback mechanisms
}

4. File Integrity Monitoring

Current Gap: AIDE rules need periodic review Resolution:

# Update src/setup/modules/aide.sh
# Add SIEM integration capabilities
enhance_aide_monitoring() {
    # Implement remote log forwarding
    # Add alerting mechanisms
}

5. Audit Log Management

Current Gap: Log retention and forwarding not configured Resolution:

# Enhance src/setup/modules/auditd.sh
# Add secure log rotation and forwarding
configure_audit_retention() {
    # Set retention policies
    # Implement remote log forwarding
}

6. Disk and Swap Encryption

Current Gap: No encrypted swap enforcement Resolution:

# Create src/setup/modules/disk_encryption.sh
# Add swap encryption validation
check_swap_encryption() {
    # Validate encrypted swap
    # Recommend full-disk encryption
}

7. Secure Bootloader Configuration

Current Gap: GRUB password protection not enforced Resolution:

# Create src/setup/modules/bootloader_security.sh
# Implement GRUB hardening
secure_grub_config() {
    # Set GRUB passwords
    # Disable recovery mode editing
}

8. AppArmor Profile Hardening

Current Gap: Profiles in complain mode, not enforced Resolution:

# Enhance src/setup/modules/apparmor.sh
# Move profiles to enforce mode
enforce_apparmor_profiles() {
    # Custom profile creation
    # Enforcement mode activation
}

9. Backup and Recovery Security

Current Gap: No hardened backup procedures Resolution:

# Create src/setup/modules/backup_security.sh
# Implement secure backup procedures
configure_secure_backups() {
    # Offline backup validation
    # Recovery process hardening
}

10. Automated Compliance Validation

Current Gap: No SCAP/OVAL scanning Resolution:

# Create src/setup/modules/compliance_validation.sh
# Integrate OpenSCAP scanning
run_scap_validation() {
    # DISA STIG profile validation
    # Automated compliance reporting
}

Compliance Framework Integration

Lynis Integration

Objective: Integrate Lynis system auditing tool for comprehensive security assessment

Implementation Plan:

  1. Add Lynis Package: 
    # Update debian/control to include lynis dependency
# Install in setup process
  2. Create Lynis Module: 
    # src/setup/modules/lynis_audit.sh
lynis_system_audit() {
    lynis audit system --quick --quiet
    # Parse results for compliance dashboard
}
  3. Dashboard Integration:
    • Add Lynis score to compliance metrics
    • Include Lynis recommendations in dashboard
    • Generate Lynis reports in HTML format

CIS Controls Implementation

Objective: Full implementation of CIS Controls framework

Priority Controls:

  1. Inventory and Control of Hardware Assets
  2. Inventory and Control of Software Assets
  3. Continuous Vulnerability Management
  4. Controlled Use of Administrative Privileges
  5. Secure Configuration for Hardware and Software

Implementation:

# Create src/setup/modules/cis_controls.sh
implement_cis_controls() {
    # Asset inventory automation
    # Vulnerability scanning integration
    # Administrative privilege controls
}

DISA STIG Enhancement

Objective: Complete DISA STIG compliance coverage

Key Areas:

  1. Access Control (STIG-ID: AC-*)
  2. Audit and Accountability (STIG-ID: AU-*)
  3. Configuration Management (STIG-ID: CM-*)
  4. Identification and Authentication (STIG-ID: IA-*)
  5. System and Information Integrity (STIG-ID: SI-*)

Validation Process:

# Use OpenSCAP for STIG validation
oscap xccdf eval --profile xccdf_mil.disa.stig_profile_MAC-1_Public \
    /usr/share/xml/scap/ssg/content/ssg-debian10-ds.xml

CI/CD Enhancement for Headless Deployment

Container Testing Enhancement

Current Implementation: Docker-based multi-architecture testing Enhancements Needed:

  1. Expand Test Matrix: 
    # .github/workflows/ci.yml enhancement
strategy:
  matrix:
    arch: [amd64, arm64]
    distro: [debian, ubuntu]
    deployment: [container, vm, desktop]
  2. Headless Validation: 
    # Add comprehensive headless testing
test_headless_deployment() {
    # Test all modules in non-interactive mode
    # Validate dashboard generation
    # Check compliance metrics
}
  3. VM Testing Integration: 
    # Add VM testing with QEMU
test_vm_deployment() {
    # Full VM simulation
    # Boot process validation
    # Complete system hardening test
}

Desktop Environment Testing

Objective: Ensure compatibility with desktop deployments

Implementation:

  1. Desktop Package Testing:
    • Test with GNOME, KDE, XFCE environments
    • Validate desktop security modules
    • Ensure GUI compatibility when available
  2. Display Manager Hardening: 
    # Create src/setup/modules/desktop_security.sh
harden_desktop_environment() {
    # Display manager security
    # Desktop privilege controls
    # User session hardening
}

Monitoring and Maintenance Procedures

Automated Security Updates

Objective: Implement automated security patch management

Implementation:

# Create scheduled security update process
configure_security_updates() {
    # Enable unattended-upgrades for security patches
    # Configure automatic reboot for kernel updates
    # Implement rollback procedures
}

Compliance Monitoring

Objective: Continuous compliance validation

Components:

  1. Daily Compliance Checks
  2. Weekly Security Scans
  3. Monthly Compliance Reports
  4. Quarterly Security Reviews

Performance Impact Assessment

Objective: Monitor hardening impact on system performance

Metrics:

Testing and Validation Protocols

Module Testing Standards

Requirements:

  1. Each module must pass in headless mode
  2. Timeout protection (300 seconds maximum)
  3. Proper error handling and logging
  4. Multi-architecture compatibility
  5. Rollback capability where possible

Compliance Testing

Validation Methods:

  1. OpenSCAP Scanning: Automated STIG validation
  2. Lynis Auditing: System security assessment
  3. Custom Compliance Checks: HARDN-specific validations
  4. Performance Testing: Impact assessment

Security Testing

Test Categories:

  1. Penetration Testing: Simulated attack scenarios
  2. Vulnerability Scanning: Automated vulnerability detection
  3. Configuration Testing: Security setting validation
  4. Incident Response Testing: Security event simulation

Documentation Maintenance

Required Documentation Updates

  1. Module Documentation: Each module requires compliance mapping
  2. Deployment Guides: Container, VM, and desktop specific guides
  3. Troubleshooting Guides: Common issue resolution
  4. Security Advisory Process: CVE response procedures

Change Management Process

  1. Security Impact Assessment: For all changes
  2. Compliance Validation: Before deployment
  3. Rollback Procedures: For failed deployments
  4. Documentation Updates: Synchronized with code changes

Emergency Response Procedures

Security Incident Response

  1. Immediate Containment: Isolate affected systems
  2. Impact Assessment: Determine scope and severity
  3. Remediation: Apply patches or workarounds
  4. Validation: Confirm issue resolution
  5. Documentation: Update procedures and lessons learned

Critical CVE Response

  1. CVE Assessment: Impact on HARDN-XDR deployments
  2. Patch Development: Emergency module updates
  3. Testing: Rapid validation in CI environment
  4. Deployment: Emergency release procedures
  5. Communication: User notification and guidance