Atomic Secured Linux
1.0 Notes
Atomic Secured Linux(tm) version 1.0 is a linux security solution, distributed through a subscription yum channel. It works by combining both Kernel hardening techniques, as well as userspace Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) to your web application hosting environment. ASL is specifically targeted at addressing the threats posed by vulnerabilities in applications, such as CRM's, forums, shopping carts, or other custom applications.
The design of ASL approaches securing the server, and its applications, by using an application layer firewall to filter out malicious content, before it reaches the application. The hardened kernel subsystems further enhance the overall security model by enforcing file and process level security policies on the system.
The advantages of the ASL approach to security, is that it addresses the security threats posed by web based applications where either it is not possible to fix the application due to lack of source code, or availability of resources, or the number of applications make repairing all vulnerabilities economically unfeasible.
It offers among many other features:
- Stack overflow protection from the PaX project, that addresses exploits in services on the system, such as apache, bind, or secure shell
- Virtual Patching of web applications, which makes its possible to use software which have vulnerabilities when a patch is not available or it is not possible to install one
- Web Application Firewall using the world famous Gotroot rules.
- An intelligent and robust Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) system that can generate least privilege policies for your entire system with no configuration, from the Grsecurity project.
- Trusted Path Execution, which only allows untrusted users such as apache to execute commands owned by root, thus simply preventing a whole class of exploit techniques used by attackers, or internet worms
- Users are restricted to only view their processes
- Application layer firewalling through mod_security, and the industry leading rules created by Atomicorp at gotroot.com, optimized for Plesk Server Administrator environments.
- Denial of Service protection through mod_evasive
2.0 Notes
ASL Kernel (grsecurity, firewall additions like match, and stealth), mod_security and, mod_evasive for input validation, and DoS protection, userspace HIDS with ossec, application inventory module, compliance and vulnerability scanner, and PSA integration.
ASL Documentation
