Disable rpcbind Service

Docs > Datadog Security > OOTB Rules > Disable rpcbind Service

Description

The rpcbind utility maps RPC services to the ports on which they listen. RPC processes notify rpcbind when they start, registering the ports they are listening on and the RPC program numbers they expect to serve. The rpcbind service redirects the client to the proper port number so it can communicate with the requested service. If the system does not require RPC (such as for NFS servers) then this service should be disabled.

The rpcbind service can be disabled with the following command:

$ sudo systemctl mask --now rpcbind.service

Rationale

If the system does not require rpc based services, it is recommended that rpcbind be disabled to reduce the attack surface.

Remediation

Shell script

The following script can be run on the host to remediate the issue.

#!/bin/bash

# Remediation is applicable only in certain platforms
if [ ! -f /.dockerenv ] && [ ! -f /run/.containerenv ]; then

SYSTEMCTL_EXEC='/usr/bin/systemctl'
"$SYSTEMCTL_EXEC" stop 'rpcbind.service'
"$SYSTEMCTL_EXEC" disable 'rpcbind.service'
"$SYSTEMCTL_EXEC" mask 'rpcbind.service'
# Disable socket activation if we have a unit file for it
if "$SYSTEMCTL_EXEC" -q list-unit-files rpcbind.socket; then
    "$SYSTEMCTL_EXEC" stop 'rpcbind.socket'
    "$SYSTEMCTL_EXEC" mask 'rpcbind.socket'
fi
# The service may not be running because it has been started and failed,
# so let's reset the state so OVAL checks pass.
# Service should be 'inactive', not 'failed' after reboot though.
"$SYSTEMCTL_EXEC" reset-failed 'rpcbind.service' || true

else
    >&2 echo 'Remediation is not applicable, nothing was done'
fi

Ansible playbook

The following playbook can be run with Ansible to remediate the issue.

- name: Disable rpcbind Service - Collect systemd Services Present in the System
  ansible.builtin.command: systemctl -q list-unit-files --type service
  register: service_exists
  changed_when: false
  failed_when: service_exists.rc not in [0, 1]
  check_mode: false
  when: ansible_virtualization_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
  tags:
  - CCE-80230-6
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.4
  - disable_strategy
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - low_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - service_rpcbind_disabled

- name: Disable rpcbind Service - Ensure "rpcbind.service" is Masked
  ansible.builtin.systemd:
    name: rpcbind.service
    state: stopped
    enabled: false
    masked: true
  when:
  - ansible_virtualization_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
  - service_exists.stdout_lines is search("rpcbind.service",multiline=True)
  tags:
  - CCE-80230-6
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.4
  - disable_strategy
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - low_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - service_rpcbind_disabled

- name: Unit Socket Exists - rpcbind.socket
  ansible.builtin.command: systemctl -q list-unit-files rpcbind.socket
  register: socket_file_exists
  changed_when: false
  failed_when: socket_file_exists.rc not in [0, 1]
  check_mode: false
  when: ansible_virtualization_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
  tags:
  - CCE-80230-6
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.4
  - disable_strategy
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - low_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - service_rpcbind_disabled

- name: Disable socket rpcbind
  ansible.builtin.systemd:
    name: rpcbind.socket
    enabled: 'no'
    state: stopped
    masked: 'yes'
  when:
  - ansible_virtualization_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
  - socket_file_exists.stdout_lines is search("rpcbind.socket",multiline=True)
  tags:
  - CCE-80230-6
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.4
  - disable_strategy
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - low_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - service_rpcbind_disabled