Details

Network devices are capable of providing a wide variety of functions and services. Some of the functions and services provided by default may not be necessary to support essential organizational operations. Additionally, it is sometimes convenient to provide multiple services from a single component (e.g., email and web services); however, doing so increases risk over limiting the services provided by any one component.

To support the requirements and principles of least functionality, the network device must support the organizational requirements providing only essential capabilities and limiting the use of ports, protocols, and/or services to only those required, authorized, and approved. Some network devices have capabilities enabled by default; if these capabilities are not necessary, they must be disabled. If a particular capability is used, then it must be documented and approved.

Solution

Disable features that should not be enabled unless required for operations.

SW2(config)# no feature telnet
SW2(config)# no feature dhcp
SW2(config)# no feature wccp
SW2(config)# no feature nxapi
SW2(config)# no feature imp

Note: Telnet must always be disabled.

Supportive Information

The following resource is also helpful.

• https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_Cisco_NX-OS_Switch_Y21M10_STIG.zip

This security hardening control applies to the following category of controls within NIST 800-53: Configuration Management.This control applies to the following type of system Cisco.

References

• 800-53|CM-7b.
• CAT|I
• CCI|CCI-000382
• Rule-ID|SV-220486r604141_rule
• STIG-ID|CISC-ND-000470
• STIG-Legacy|SV-110621
• STIG-Legacy|V-101517
• Vuln-ID|V-220486

Source

• Tenable.com/audits