29
Fri, Nov
0 New Articles

Security Patrol: Security Questions & Answers

IBM i (OS/400, i5/OS)
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Q: Our company uses an initial program to control which menu options users can view. The initial menu is set to MAIN (the IBM default) for end users. Our internal audit department has requested that I change the initial menu to *SIGNOFF. Is this change necessary since the initial program prevents the MAIN menu from being displayed?

A: If the initial program terminates for any reason, the initial menu will be displayed. The MAIN menu gives users menu options that allow viewing and deleting files.

The initial program rarely terminates, so the risk is slight. However, I recommend changing the option to *SIGNOFF, the most secure option for an initial menu.

Making the change may be simpler than convincing the audit department that the initial program will never terminate.

Q: Our programmers do not have command line access to our production systems. When an application error occurs, the programmers need command line access and *ALLOBJ authority. Currently, they sign on using the user profile DPSERVICE, which has *ALLOBJ authority. We record commands entered by the DPSERVICE profile by specifying AUDLVL(*CMD) on the Change User Auditing (CHGUSRAUD) command for DPSERVICE. Several programmers know the password for the DPSERVICE profile. We would like to stop using the DPSERVICE profile and have the programmers use their own user profiles. However, we do not want to audit all the commands the programmers enter.

How can we give programmers command line access but only audit commands when the programmer has adopted *ALLOBJ authority?

A: I agree with your plan to stop using a shared user profile like DPSERVICE. Sharing profiles has some major problems.

1. There's no individual accountability for actions. Determining who used the shared profile is difficult.

2. Changing the user profile password periodically is difficult. A change requires notifying all the authorized users.

I have created the Log Command (LOGCMD) command to turn on auditing for a user profile under certain circumstances. What makes the technique work is the Set Profile (QWTSETP) application program interface (API). This API changes a job to run under a specified profile represented by a profile handle that you pass to the API. (For more information on this API, see "Dynamic Change of Group Profile," MC, May 1994 and Security Patrol, MC, December 1994.)

While creating this technique, I found a problem. After running the API, action auditing was no longer active. The problem occurs under certain conditions.

1. A user's level of action auditing has been set with the Change User Auditing (CHGUSRAUD) command.

2. The Get Profile Handle (QSYGETPH) and QWTSETP APIs change the job to run under a specified profile.

3. The original profile and the new profile are the same.

I contacted IBM and, fortunately, they had a PTF that took care of the problem.

Perform the following steps to create the LOGCMD command and its associated programs and to set up your system to make the technique work.

1. Obtain the PTF for the QWTSETP program, load it, and apply it. (It can be applied immediately.) See 1 for the PTF number corresponding to your release.

1. Obtain the PTF for the QWTSETP program, load it, and apply it. (It can be applied immediately.) See Figure 1 for the PTF number corresponding to your release.

2. Create the LOGCMD authorization list that controls which user profiles are allowed to access the command line.

 CRTAUTL AUTL(LOGCMD) + TEXT('Command line + with command logging') + AUT(*EXCLUDE) 

3. Give users who are allowed this access *USE authority to the authorization list.

 ADDAUTLE AUTL(LOGCMD) + USER(pgmr1) + AUT(*USE) 

4. Create the LOGCMD command (see 2) and secure it with the authorization list LOGCMD. (See the compile instructions at the beginning of the source member.) The LOGCMD was created with ALWLMTUSR(*YES) so the command can be entered by a LMTCPB(*YES) user. An alternative is to add the LOGCMD to the programmer's initial program.

4. Create the LOGCMD command (see Figure 2) and secure it with the authorization list LOGCMD. (See the compile instructions at the beginning of the source member.) The LOGCMD was created with ALWLMTUSR(*YES) so the command can be entered by a LMTCPB(*YES) user. An alternative is to add the LOGCMD to the programmer's initial program.

5. Create CL programs CMD008CL (see 3) and CMD009CL (see 4, page 116). Secure the programs with the authorization list LOGCMD you created in step 1, as described in the compile instructions at the beginning of each source member.

5. Create CL programs CMD008CL (see Figure 3) and CMD009CL (see Figure 4, page 116). Secure the programs with the authorization list LOGCMD you created in step 1, as described in the compile instructions at the beginning of each source member.

Program CMD008CL sets the user profile to log commands and swaps the user profile. Program CMD009CL presents a command entry screen to the user.

Program CMD008CL must be owned by a user profile with *ALLOBJ *SECADM, and *AUDIT special authority. (*AUDIT is required by the CHGUSRAUD command; *ALLOBJ and *SECADM are required to get the profile handle with the *NOPWD option.) Program CMD008CL transfers control to program CMD009CL so that the adopted security officer access is not given to users at the command line. If required, the program CMD009CL can adopt a user profile that has *ALLOBJ authority. The create commands in steps 4 and 5 specify AUT(LOGCMD), so the command and programs are secured by the LOGCMD authorization list.


Security Patrol: Security Questions & Answers

Figure 1 PTF Required for QWTSETP program

 OS/400 Release PTF number V2R3 SF22421 V3R05 SF22422 V3R1 SF22423 
Security Patrol: Security Questions & Answers

Figure 2 Command LOGCMD

 /*==================================================================*/ /* To compile: */ /* */ /* CRTCMD CMD(XXX/LOGCMD) PGM(XXX/CMD001CL) + */ /* SRCFILE(XXX/QCMDSRC) ALWLMTUSR(*YES) + */ /* AUT(LOGCMD) */ /* */ /*==================================================================*/ LOGCMD: CMD PROMPT('Log commands entered by User') PARM KWD(HANDLE) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(12) + CONSTANT(GLOOP) 
Security Patrol: Security Questions & Answers

Figure 3 CL Program CMD008CL

 /*==================================================================*/ /* To compile: */ /* */ /* CRTCLPGM PGM(XXX/CMD008CL) SRCFILE(XXX/QCLSRC) + */ /* USRPRF(*OWNER) LOG(*NO) ALWRTVSRC(*NO) + */ /* AUT(LOGCMD) */ /* */ /*==================================================================*/ CMD008CL: PGM PARM(&HANDLE) DCL VAR(&USER) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(10) DCL VAR(&HANDLE) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(12) /* Profile + swap handle without audit */ DCL VAR(&LOGCMD) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(12) /* Profile + swap handle with AUDLVL(*CMD) */ RTVUSRPRF RTNUSRPRF(&USER) CALL PGM(QSYGETPH) PARM(&USER '*NOPWD' &HANDLE) CHGUSRAUD USRPRF(&USER) AUDLVL(*CMD) CALL PGM(QSYGETPH) PARM(&USER '*NOPWD' &LOGCMD) CHGUSRAUD USRPRF(&USER) AUDLVL(*NONE) CALL PGM(QWTSETP) PARM(&LOGCMD) CALL PGM(QSYRLSPH) PARM(&LOGCMD) TFRCTL PGM(CMD009CL) PARM(&HANDLE) ENDPGM: ENDPGM 
Security Patrol: Security Questions & Answers

Figure 4 CL Program CMD009CL

 /*==================================================================*/ /* To compile: */ /* */ /* CRTCLPGM PGM(XXX/CMD009CL) SRCFILE(XXX/QCLSRC) + */ /* USRPRF(*OWNER) LOG(*NO) ALWRTVSRC(*NO) + */ /* AUT(LOGCMD) */ /* */ /*==================================================================*/ CMD009CL: PGM PARM(&HANDLE) DCL VAR(&HANDLE) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(12) DCL VAR(&LMTCPB) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(10) DCL VAR(&MSG) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(512) DCL VAR(&KEYVAR) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(4) DCL VAR(&RTNTYPE) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(2) RTVUSRPRF USRPRF(*CURRENT) LMTCPB(&LMTCPB) IF COND(&LMTCPB *NE '*YES') THEN(DO) CALL PGM(QCMD) /* Command entry screen */ ENDDO ELSE DO /* If user is LMTCPB(*YES) give the user a command */ /* line via QCMDEXC. */ RECEIVE: RCVMSG PGMQ(*EXT) MSGTYPE(*RQS) RMV(*NO) + KEYVAR(&KEYVAR) MSG(&MSG) RTNTYPE(&RTNTYPE) MONMSG MSGID(CPF2415) EXEC(GOTO CMDLBL(EXIT)) /* F3 + = Exit */ IF COND(&RTNTYPE = '10') THEN(CHGVAR VAR(&MSG) + VALUE('?' || &MSG)) CALL PGM(QCMDCHK) PARM(&MSG 512) MONMSG MSGID(CPF0000) EXEC(GOTO CMDLBL(RECEIVE)) RMVMSG PGMQ(*EXT) MSGKEY(&KEYVAR) CLEAR(*BYKEY) SNDPGMMSG MSG(&MSG) TOPGMQ(*EXT) MSGTYPE(*RQS) RCVMSG PGMQ(*EXT) MSGTYPE(*RQS) RMV(*NO) CALL PGM(QCMDEXC) PARM(&MSG 512) MONMSG MSGID(CPF0000) GOTO CMDLBL(RECEIVE) ENDDO EXIT: CALL PGM(QWTSETP) PARM(&HANDLE) CALL PGM(QSYRLSPH) PARM(&HANDLE) ENDPGM 
BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: