V-244527

Discussion

The most important characteristic of a random number generator is its randomness, namely its ability to deliver random numbers that are impossible to predict. Entropy in computer security is associated with the unpredictability of a source of randomness. The random source with high entropy tends to achieve a uniform distribution of random values. Random number generators are one of the most important building blocks of cryptosystems. The rngd service feeds random data from hardware device to kernel random device. Quality (non-predictable) random number generation is important for several security functions (i.e., ciphers).

Check Content

Note: For RHEL versions 8.4 and above running with kernel FIPS mode enabled as specified by RHEL-08-010020, this requirement is Not Applicable.

Check that RHEL 8 has the packages required to enabled the hardware random number generator entropy gatherer service with the following command:

$ sudo yum list installed rng-tools

rng-tools.x86_64                       6.8-3.el8                        @anaconda

If the "rng-tools" package is not installed, this is a finding.