BeyondTrust has released version 9.4 of PowerBroker for Unix &Linux, our solution for efficiently delegating Unix and Linux privileges and elevating commands without disclosing passwords for root or other accounts. This new release features some exciting enhancements – especially around File Integrity Monitoring. Read on for more.
File Integrity Monitoring Ensures That Critical Binaries Have Not Been Tampered With
With least privilege/privilege elevation tools, administrators choose a target that they allow users to run with elevated permissions or files that the user can work with. However, should one of those files become compromised, then the privilege elevation tool could end up running or allowing access to files designed to do harm to a system at higher rights than the user would otherwise have. Organizations need an automated and simple way to ensure the integrity of files on controlled systems. This should include the checking of file features such as the file ownership, size, creation and modification date/time as well as a hash checksum of the file.
PowerBroker for Unix & Linux version 9.4 introduces a new capability called File Integrity Monitor that performs timed scans of centrally selected files and/or folders, checking the targets against a list of predefined settings including location, ownership, permissions, size, date/time and a file hash. See the screenshot below for a representation of this new functionality.
With File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) enabled, organizations can be assured that important system binaries, product binaries and files on each system where PowerBroker for Unix & Linux has been deployed have not been tampered with. Any changes that do occur as part of system changes and updates will be fully audited and can be reviewed/accepted to ensure that no compromises are introduced to those controlled systems.
Registry Name Service Simplifies Adding, Changing or Removing Servers
Version 9.4 introduces a new service called Registry Name Service that will allow all components to centrally register themselves and provide a logical grouping (Service Groups) so that PowerBroker clients can easily find and use services provided by the solution. This new capability provides an alternative way to locate servers instead of using manual lists inside of locally controlled configuration files (pb.settings) or having to manage or rely on DNS. The grouping function makes adding, changing or removing servers with particular services types much easier while assuring high availability needs are always met.
Database Synchronization Enables Seamless Configuration Between All Servers
With the introduction of the Registry Name Service that groups servers and services, servers that belong to RNS Service Groups can optionally choose to synchronize files between all servers that are subscribers to that particular service group. This provides a simple way to group servers that provide similar functionality and allows configuration files to replicate between those servers. With Database Synchronization files and settings can be automatically replicated, saving time and effort by no longer requiring the manual copying of files and settings between hosts.
Enhanced ACA Reporting Speeds and Simplifies Auditing
Advanced Control and Audit is a feature available in PowerBroker for Unix & Linux that provides a deeper level of audit capability, logging system calls such as reads, writes and executes. With version 9.4, a new format to invoke granular logging has been added to the ACA policy syntax, such that individual ACA actions such as read, write and execute can be logged at individual log levels. Additionally, the presentation of the command line report generated by ACA auditing has been improved to be easier to read. Please see a representation of that in the screenshot below.
Enhanced Session History Enables Faster Forensics and Audit Reviews
Version 9.4 introduces a new way to record and log the user’s command history within a recorded session with functionality in the command language that leverages Advanced Control and Audit to track execution activity within a recorded session. With this new capability, administrators can now more easily monitor and alert on suspicious and inappropriate activity providing much faster forensics and audit reviews using session logs.
There are several more enhancements and new features in this release of PowerBroker for Unix & Linux. Check out the new features document, or the new features videos for a complete rundown, and if you would like personalized demo of PowerBroker for Unix & Linux, let us know!
Paul Harper, Product Manager, BeyondTrust
Paul Harper is product manager for Unix and Linux solutions at BeyondTrust, guiding the product strategy, go-to-market and development for PowerBroker for Unix & Linux, PowerBroker for Sudo and PowerBroker Identity Services. Prior to joining BeyondTrust, Paul was a senior architect at Quest Software/Dell. Paul has more than 20 years of experience in Unix/Linux operations and deployments.