documentation_complete: true

title: Enable FIPS Mode

description: |-
{{% if product == "rhcos4" %}}
    OpenShift has an installation-time flag that can enable FIPS mode
    for the cluster. The flag <pre>fips: true</pre> must be enabled
    at install time in the <pre>install-config.yaml</pre> file. If
    this rule fails on an installed cluster, then this is a permanent
    finding and cannot be fixed.
{{% elif 'rhel' in product %}}
    {{{ full_name }}} has an installation-time kernel flag that can enable FIPS mode.
    The installer must be booted with <tt>fips=1</tt> for the system to have FIPS mode
    enabled. Enabling FIPS mode on a preexisting system is not supported. If
    this rule fails on an installed system, then this is a permanent
    finding and cannot be fixed.
{{% else %}}
    To enable FIPS mode, run the following command:
    <pre>fips-mode-setup --enable</pre>
    <br />
    The <tt>fips-mode-setup</tt> command will configure the system in
    FIPS mode by automatically configuring the following:
    <ul>
    <li>Setting the kernel FIPS mode flag (<tt>/proc/sys/crypto/fips_enabled</tt>) to <tt>1</tt></li>
    <li>Creating <tt>/etc/system-fips</tt></li>
    <li>Setting the system crypto policy in <tt>/etc/crypto-policies/config</tt> to <tt>{{{ xccdf_value("var_system_crypto_policy") }}}</tt></li>
    <li>Loading the Dracut <tt>fips</tt> module</li>
    </ul>
{{% endif %}}
{{% if bootable_containers_supported == "true" %}}
    <br />
    To enable FIPS mode at bootable container build time configure <tt>fips=1</tt> kernel argument
    in <tt>/usr/lib/bootc/kargs.d/01-fips.toml</tt>:
    <pre>kargs = ["fips=1"]</pre>
    Then set the cryptographic policy to <tt>{{{ xccdf_value("var_system_crypto_policy") }}}</tt>:
    <pre>update-crypto-policies --no-reload --set {{{ xccdf_value("var_system_crypto_policy") }}}</pre>
{{% endif %}}

rationale: |-
    Use of weak or untested encryption algorithms undermines the purposes of utilizing encryption to
    protect data. The operating system must implement cryptographic modules adhering to the higher
    standards approved by the federal government since this provides assurance they have been tested
    and validated.

severity: high

identifiers:
    cce@rhcos4: CCE-82540-6
    cce@rhel8: CCE-80942-6
    cce@rhel9: CCE-88742-2
    cce@rhel10: CCE-86982-6

references:
    nerc-cip: CIP-003-8 R4.2,CIP-007-3 R5.1
    nist: CM-3(6),SC-12(2),SC-12(3),IA-7,SC-13,CM-6(a),SC-12
    ospp: FCS_COP.1(1),FCS_COP.1(2),FCS_COP.1(3),FCS_COP.1(4),FCS_CKM.1,FCS_CKM.2,FCS_TLSC_EXT.1,FCS_RBG_EXT.1
    srg: SRG-OS-000478-GPOS-00223,SRG-OS-000396-GPOS-00176
    stigid@ol8: OL08-00-010020,OL08-00-010293

ocil_clause: 'FIPS mode is not enabled'

ocil: |-
    To verify that FIPS mode is enabled properly, run the following command:
    <pre>cat /proc/sys/crypto/fips_enabled</pre>
    The output be must:
    <pre>1</pre>

warnings:
    - general: |-
        To configure {{{ full_name }}} to run in FIPS 140 mode, the kernel parameter "fips=1" needs to be added during its installation.
        Only enabling FIPS 140 mode during the {{{ full_name }}} installation ensures that the system generates all keys with FIPS-approved algorithms and continuous monitoring tests in place.
        Enabling FIPS mode on a preexisting system involves a number of modifications to it and therefore is not supported.
    - regulatory: |-
        This rule DOES NOT CHECK if the components of the operating system are FIPS certified.
        You can find the list of FIPS certified modules at {{{ weblink(link="https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/cryptographic-module-validation-program/validated-modules/search") }}}.
        This rule checks if the system is running in FIPS mode.

fixtext: |-
    Configure {{{ full_name }}} to run in FIPS mode.

    The installer for the system must be booted with kernel parameter <tt>fips=1</tt>.

srg_requirement: '{{{ full_name }}} must implement NIST FIPS-validated cryptography for the following: to provision digital signatures, to generate cryptographic hashes, and to protect data requiring data-at-rest protections in accordance with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, and standards.'

platform: system_with_kernel and not osbuild