A graphical display manager must not be installed on AlmaLinux OS 9 unless approved.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-269354 | ALMA-09-031040 | SV-269354r1050237_rule | Medium |
| Description |
| Unnecessary service packages must not be installed to decrease the attack surface of the system. Graphical display managers have a long history of security vulnerabilities and must not be used, unless approved and documented. |
| STIG | Date |
| CloudLinux AlmaLinux OS 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-22 |
Details
| Check Text (C-73385r1048438_chk) |
| Verify that a graphical user interface is not installed with the following command: $ dnf list --installed "xorg-x11-server-common" Error: No matching Packages to list If the "xorg-x11-server-common" package is installed, and the use of a graphical user interface has not been documented with the information system security officer (ISSO) as an operational requirement, this is a finding. |
| Fix Text (F-73286r1048439_fix) |
| Document the requirement for a graphical user interface with the ISSO or remove all xorg packages with the following command: Warning: If accessing the system through the graphical user interface, change to the multi-user.target with the following command: $ systemctl isolate multi-user.target Warning: Removal of the graphical user interface will immediately render it useless. The following commands must not be run from a virtual terminal emulator in the graphical interface. $ dnf remove "xorg*" $ systemctl set-default multi-user.target |