Install the systemd_timesyncd Service

Classification:

compliance

Framework:

Control:

Description

The systemd_timesyncd service should be installed.

Rationale

Time synchronization (using NTP) is required by almost all network and administrative tasks (syslog, cryptographic based services (authentication, etc.), etc.). systemd_timesyncd is a part of the systemd suite and acts as a NTP client.

Remediation

Shell script

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

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

DEBIAN\_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get install -y "systemd-timesyncd"

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: Ensure systemd-timesyncd is installed
 package:
 name: systemd-timesyncd
 state: present
 when: ansible\_virtualization\_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
 tags:
 - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
 - PCI-DSS-Req-10.4
 - enable\_strategy
 - high\_severity
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - no\_reboot\_needed
 - package\_timesyncd\_installed