Lynis

Lynis Package Description

Lynis is an open source security auditing tool. Its main goal is to audit and harden Unix and Linux based systems. It scans the system by performing many security control checks. Examples include searching for installed software and determine possible configuration flaws.

Many tests are part of common security guidelines and standards, with on top additional security tests. After the scan a report will be displayed with all discovered findings. To provide you with initial guidance, a link is shared to the related Lynis control.

Tools included in the lynis package

lynis – Open source security auditing tool

root@kali:~# lynis -h

[ Lynis 2.6.2 ]

################################################################################
  Lynis comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY. This is free software, and you are
  welcome to redistribute it under the terms of the GNU General Public License.
  See the LICENSE file for details about using this software.

  2007-2018, CISOfy - https://cisofy.com/lynis/
  Enterprise support available (compliance, plugins, interface and tools)
################################################################################


[+] Initializing program
------------------------------------


  Usage: lynis command [options]


  Command:

    audit
        audit system                  : Perform local security scan
        audit system remote <host>    : Remote security scan
        audit dockerfile <file>       : Analyze Dockerfile

    show
        show                          : Show all commands
        show version                  : Show Lynis version
        show help                     : Show help

    update
        update info                   : Show update details


  Options:

    --no-log                          : Don't create a log file
    --pentest                         : Non-privileged scan (useful for pentest)
    --profile <profile>               : Scan the system with the given profile file
    --quick (-Q)                      : Quick mode, don't wait for user input

    Layout options
    --no-colors                       : Don't use colors in output
    --quiet (-q)                      : No output
    --reverse-colors                  : Optimize color display for light backgrounds

    Misc options
    --debug                           : Debug logging to screen
    --view-manpage (--man)            : View man page
    --verbose                         : Show more details on screen
    --version (-V)                    : Display version number and quit

    Enterprise options
    --plugin-dir "<path>"             : Define path of available plugins
    --upload                          : Upload data to central node

    More options available. Run '/usr/sbin/lynis show options', or use the man page.

lynis Usage Example

Scan the system in quiet mode (-Q) and output in cronjob format (–cronjob):

root@kali:~# lynis -Q --cronjob

[ Lynis 2.6.2 ]

################################################################################
  Lynis comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY. This is free software, and you are
  welcome to redistribute it under the terms of the GNU General Public License.
  See the LICENSE file for details about using this software.

  2007-2018, CISOfy - https://cisofy.com/lynis/
  Enterprise support available (compliance, plugins, interface and tools)
################################################################################


[+] Initializing program
------------------------------------
- Detecting OS...  [ DONE ]
- Checking profiles... [ DONE ]

  ---------------------------------------------------
  Program version:           2.6.2
  Operating system:          Linux
  Operating system name:     Debian
  Operating system version:  kali-rolling
  Kernel version:            4.18.0
  Hardware platform:         x86_64
  Hostname:                  kali
  ---------------------------------------------------
  Profiles:                  /etc/lynis/default.prf
  Log file:                  /var/log/lynis.log
  Report file:               /var/log/lynis-report.dat
  Report version:            1.0
  Plugin directory:          /etc/lynis/plugins
  ---------------------------------------------------
  Auditor:                   [Not Specified]
  Language:                  en
  Test category:             all
  Test group:                all
  ---------------------------------------------------
...