Are you looking to strengthen your Ubuntu system’s security posture? OpenSCAP is your go-to solution for automated security compliance and vulnerability scanning. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through installing the latest OpenSCAP on Ubuntu and show you how to leverage its powerful features to keep your systems secure and compliant.
What is OpenSCAP?
OpenSCAP is an open-source framework that helps you assess and ensure your system’s compliance with predefined security standards. Think of it as your automated security auditor that works 24/7 to identify vulnerabilities and configuration issues before they become real problems.
The tool implements the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP), which provides a standardized method for evaluating system compliance against security standards like FISMA, PCI-DSS, and CIS Benchmarks. This means you’re not just using some random security tool—you’re working with industry-recognized standards that organizations worldwide trust.
Understanding SCAP Technology
SCAP isn’t just one technology; it’s a collection of standards working together. It includes OVAL (Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language), XCCDF (Extensible Configuration Checklist Description Format), CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures), and several other components that create a comprehensive security framework.
When OpenSCAP runs an analysis, it compares your system’s current state with defined security content and presents the differences in detailed reports. This automated approach eliminates manual assessments and saves countless hours of work.
Why OpenSCAP Matters for Security
In today’s threat landscape, manual security audits simply don’t cut it anymore. Organizations face an increasing number of cyberattacks, making automated tools like OpenSCAP essential. The tool helps you proactively identify vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them, significantly improving your security posture.
Key Features of OpenSCAP
Compliance Assessment Capabilities
OpenSCAP allows system administrators to assess compliance with various security policies, including CIS guidelines and NIST benchmarks. You can check whether your system meets specific security standards like DISA STIG or PCI-DSS requirements.
The beauty of OpenSCAP is its standardization—it ensures your systems are configured according to established security standards consistently across your infrastructure.
Vulnerability Scanning
Using OVAL definitions, OpenSCAP identifies known vulnerabilities in your operating systems, applications, and configurations. It detects security weaknesses that could compromise your system and provides actionable information for remediation.
Automated Reporting
After running scans, OpenSCAP generates detailed HTML and XML reports that help you understand your system’s compliance and security status. These reports are customizable and facilitate easy analysis and communication with stakeholders.
Prerequisites for Installing OpenSCAP on Ubuntu
System Requirements
Before installing OpenSCAP, ensure you have a working Ubuntu system with sudo privileges. You’ll need an active internet connection to download packages and security content. Make sure your system has enough disk space—at least 500 MB free space is recommended for the tools and security guides.
Supported Ubuntu Versions
OpenSCAP is available on various Ubuntu versions, including Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, 22.04 LTS, 23.04, and the latest Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. The installation process remains consistent across these versions, though package availability may vary slightly.
Installing OpenSCAP on Ubuntu: Step-by-Step Guide
Method 1: Installing via APT Package Manager
The simplest way to install OpenSCAP on Ubuntu is through the APT package manager. This method ensures you get properly integrated packages that work seamlessly with your Ubuntu system.
Open your terminal and run the following command:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install openscap-scanner openscap-utilsThe openscap-scanner package contains the command-line tool for scanning and auditing, while openscap-utils provides additional utilities for working with SCAP content.
For Ubuntu 24.04 users, you can also install the bzip2 utility that’s helpful for decompressing security content files:
sudo apt install openscap-scanner openscap-utils bzip2Installing the SCAP Security Guide
The SCAP Security Guide is a collection of security content that includes various compliance benchmarks like CIS, PCI-DSS, and STIG. Install it using:
sudo apt install scap-security-guideThis package installs predefined security profiles you can use immediately for scanning your system. You might also want to install the oscap-anaconda-addon if you’re planning to apply security profiles during system installation:
sudo apt install oscap-anaconda-addonVerifying Your Installation
After installation, verify that OpenSCAP is working correctly by checking its version:
oscap --versionThis command displays the installed OpenSCAP version and confirms the tool is ready to use. You should see output showing the version number and supported standards.
Downloading Security Content
Understanding OVAL Definitions
OVAL (Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language) definitions are the security content files that OpenSCAP uses to evaluate your system. These XML files contain rules and tests that check for specific vulnerabilities and configuration issues.
Getting Canonical’s OVAL Content
Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, provides official OVAL content specifically tailored for Ubuntu systems. Download it using these commands:
wget https://security-metadata.canonical.com/oval/com.ubuntu.$(lsb_release -cs).usn.oval.xml.bz2
bzip2 -d com.ubuntu.$(lsb_release -cs).usn.oval.xml.bz2This downloads and extracts the OVAL definition file for your specific Ubuntu release. The $(lsb_release -cs) portion automatically detects your Ubuntu version codename (like “noble” for 24.04 or “jammy” for 22.04).
Running Your First OpenSCAP Scan
Basic Vulnerability Scan
Now comes the exciting part—running your first scan! Use this command to perform a basic vulnerability assessment:
oscap oval eval --report oval-report.html com.ubuntu.$(lsb_release -cs).usn.oval.xmlThis command evaluates your system against the OVAL definitions and generates an HTML report named “oval-report.html”. The scan can take several minutes depending on your system size and the number of definitions being checked.
Compliance Scanning with Profiles
For compliance scanning using XCCDF profiles, use the following syntax:
sudo oscap xccdf eval --fetch-remote-resources --profile xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_profile_pci-dss --results /tmp/scan-results.xml --report /tmp/scan-report.html /usr/share/xml/scap/ssg/content/ssg-ubuntu2204-ds.xmlThis scans your system against the PCI-DSS profile, fetches any remote resources needed, and generates both XML results and an HTML report.
Understanding Scan Results
OpenSCAP scan results show whether each security rule passed or failed. A “true” result for a vulnerability definition means the issue exists on your system, while “false” means you’re not affected. The HTML reports are particularly useful as they present information in a user-friendly format with color coding and detailed explanations.
Working with Different Security Profiles
PCI-DSS Compliance Scanning
If you work in financial services or handle payment card data, PCI-DSS compliance is crucial. OpenSCAP includes PCI-DSS profiles that help you meet these stringent requirements. The scan evaluates all PCI-DSS rules and generates comprehensive reports showing your compliance status.
CIS Benchmark Testing
The Center for Internet Security (CIS) Benchmarks are widely recognized security configuration standards. OpenSCAP can deploy and test against CIS standards on Ubuntu Server, helping you implement best practices for system hardening.
To scan against CIS benchmarks, specify the CIS profile when running your evaluation. The SCAP Security Guide includes these profiles ready to use.
Generating and Reading Reports
HTML Report Generation
HTML reports are the most accessible way to review scan results. They include visual indicators, detailed rule descriptions, and remediation guidance. You can open these reports in any web browser, making them perfect for sharing with team members or compliance officers.
The reports show:
- Overall compliance score
- Individual rule results (pass/fail/error)
- Severity ratings for failed rules
- Detailed remediation instructions
- References to security standards
XML Results Analysis
XML results files contain the raw scan data and can be processed programmatically. These files are useful for integrating OpenSCAP into automated workflows, feeding data into security information and event management (SIEM) systems, or performing custom analysis.
You can use the XML files to track compliance trends over time or generate custom reports tailored to your organization’s needs.
Common OpenSCAP Commands
Here are essential OpenSCAP commands you’ll use regularly:
- List available profiles:
oscap info /usr/share/xml/scap/ssg/content/ssg-ubuntu2204-ds.xml - Evaluate a profile:
oscap xccdf eval --profile [profile-id] [datastream-file] - Generate guide:
oscap xccdf generate guide --profile [profile-id] [datastream-file] > guide.html - Validate SCAP content:
oscap ds sds-validate [datastream-file] - Extract OVAL from datastream:
oscap ds sds-split [datastream-file] [output-directory]
These commands give you full control over OpenSCAP’s functionality and allow you to customize scans for your specific needs.
Troubleshooting Installation Issues
Sometimes you might encounter package availability issues, especially on newer Ubuntu releases. If the scap-security-guide package isn’t available for your Ubuntu version, you can download XCCDF and OVAL content directly from the OpenSCAP website or GitHub repositories.
If you get dependency errors during installation, run:
sudo apt update
sudo apt --fix-broken installThis resolves most dependency issues automatically. For network-related problems during scans, ensure the --fetch-remote-resources flag is included in your command, as some definitions require downloading additional content.
Best Practices for OpenSCAP Usage
Schedule regular scans—weekly vulnerability scans and monthly compliance checks are good starting points. Always review and act on scan results promptly; generating reports without remediation doesn’t improve security.
Keep your OVAL content updated by downloading fresh definitions regularly from Canonical. Ubuntu releases security updates frequently, and current OVAL content ensures you’re checking for the latest vulnerabilities.
Test remediations in a non-production environment first. Some automated fixes can affect system functionality, so verify changes before applying them to critical systems.
Document your baseline compliance state and track improvements over time. This helps demonstrate security program effectiveness and identify persistent issues needing attention.
FAQs
1. Is OpenSCAP free to use on Ubuntu?
Yes, OpenSCAP is completely free and open-source software. You can install and use it on Ubuntu without any licensing costs. The tool is developed and maintained by an active community, and Canonical provides free OVAL content specifically for Ubuntu systems.
2. How often should I run OpenSCAP scans on my Ubuntu servers?
For production environments, run vulnerability scans weekly and compliance scans monthly at minimum. Critical systems or those handling sensitive data may benefit from more frequent scanning—even daily automated scans. The scan frequency should align with your organization’s risk tolerance and compliance requirements.
3. Can OpenSCAP automatically fix security issues it finds?
OpenSCAP can generate remediation scripts based on scan results, but automatic application requires careful consideration. Some XCCDF profiles include remediation content that can be applied automatically, but it’s best practice to review and test these fixes in non-production environments first to avoid unintended system changes.
4. Does OpenSCAP work with Ubuntu containers and Docker?
Yes, OpenSCAP includes tools like oscap-docker for scanning Docker containers and container images. You can assess vulnerabilities in containers and check compliance with security policies using offline scanning techniques, making it perfect for DevOps and containerized environments.
5. What’s the difference between OVAL and XCCDF scans in OpenSCAP?
OVAL (Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language) scans focus specifically on vulnerability detection, checking if known security issues exist on your system. XCCDF (Extensible Configuration Checklist Description Format) scans evaluate compliance against comprehensive security profiles that include configuration rules, best practices, and multiple security standards. XCCDF scans are broader and typically include OVAL checks within them.
