Enhancing Endpoint Security With Wazuh And CIS Benchmarks

2025-02-07

Hardening your PC endpoint security is a critical task in today’s cybersecurity landscape. While manual hardening using checklists or Microsoft’s endpoint baseline guidelines can be time-consuming and complex, tools like Wazuh simplify the process. Wazuh, an open-source XDR and SIEM platform, offers a Security Configuration Assessment (SCA) feature that automates endpoint security evaluations against benchmarks like the CIS Benchmark.

How Wazuh SCA Works:

Install Wazuh Server: Set up a Wazuh server to manage and monitor endpoints.
```
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</ol>

<h1>Install Wazuh server on Ubuntu</h1>

curl -s https://packages.wazuh.com/key/GPG-KEY-WAZUH | sudo apt-key add -
echo "deb https://packages.wazuh.com/4.x/apt/ stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/wazuh.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install wazuh-manager
```
1. Deploy Wazuh Agent: Install the Wazuh agent on the endpoint to be assessed.
```
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</ol>

<h1>Install Wazuh agent on the endpoint</h1>

sudo apt-get install wazuh-agent
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable wazuh-agent
sudo systemctl start wazuh-agent
```
  1. Run Security Configuration Assessment: Use Wazuh SCA to scan the endpoint against a CIS Benchmark.
```
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<h1>Example SCA policy configuration in Wazuh</h1>

<sca>
<policies>
<policy>CIS Benchmark for Windows 10</policy>
</policies>
</sca>
```
    1. Analyze the Report: Wazuh generates a detailed report highlighting compliance gaps, recommended changes, and implementation instructions. For example, it may suggest modifying Group Policy Objects (GPOs) or registry keys to align with the benchmark.
    2. Implement Changes: Apply the recommended changes and re-scan the endpoint to verify compliance.
```
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</ol>

<h1>Example registry key modification for Windows</h1>

<p>reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v WarnOnHTTPSToHTTPRedirect /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
```
      1. Roll Out to Production: Once compliance is achieved on a test system, deploy the changes to a limited production group for further analysis.
      Key Resources:
      What Undercode Say:
      Endpoint security hardening is a non-negotiable aspect of modern cybersecurity. Tools like Wazuh, combined with industry-standard benchmarks such as the CIS Benchmark, provide a structured and efficient approach to securing endpoints. By automating the assessment process, Wazuh reduces the manual effort required and ensures consistent compliance with security best practices.
      For Linux-based systems, consider using the following commands to enhance security:
      – Check for Open Ports: Use `netstat` or `ss` to identify unnecessary open ports.
```
sudo netstat -tuln
sudo ss -tuln
```
      – Enable Firewall: Configure `ufw` to restrict unauthorized access.
```
sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw allow ssh
sudo ufw status verbose
```
      – Update System Regularly: Ensure your system is up-to-date with security patches.
```
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y
```
      – Audit User Permissions: Review and restrict user privileges.
```
sudo less /etc/passwd
sudo usermod -L <username> # Lock a user account
```
      – Monitor Logs: Use `journalctl` to monitor system logs for suspicious activity.
```
sudo journalctl -xe
```
      By integrating these practices with tools like Wazuh, organizations can significantly improve their endpoint security posture. For further reading, explore the provided URLs to access detailed guidelines and benchmarks. Remember, cybersecurity is an ongoing process, and staying proactive is key to mitigating risks.
      References:
      Hackers Feeds, Undercode AI

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How Wazuh SCA Works:

Key Resources:

What Undercode Say:

References:

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