Ensure mounting of hfs filesystems is disabled
Scanned 9/3/2026
Install to Claude Code
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---
name: cis-ubuntu1804-v220-1-1-1-4
description: "Ensure mounting of hfs filesystems is disabled"
category: cis-storage
version: "2.2.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, ubuntu, linux, ubuntu-18.04, filesystem, hfs, kernel-module]
cis_id: "1.1.1.4"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Ubuntu Linux 18.04 LTS Benchmark v2.2.0"
tech_stack: [ubuntu, linux]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---
# Ensure mounting of hfs filesystems is disabled
## Profile
Level 1 - Server / Level 1 - Workstation, Assessment: Automated
## Description
The hfs filesystem type is a hierarchical filesystem that allows you to mount Mac OS filesystems.
## Rationale
Removing support for unneeded filesystem types reduces the local attack surface of the system. If this filesystem type is not needed, disable it.
## Impact
None noted.
## Audit Procedure
### Command Line
Run the following script to verify the hfs module is disabled. If the module is available in the running kernel:
- An entry including `/bin/true` or `/bin/false` exists in a file within the `/etc/modprobe.d/` directory
- The module is deny listed in a file within the `/etc/modprobe.d/` directory
- The module is not loaded in the kernel
```bash
#!/usr/bin/env bash
{
l_output="" l_output2="" l_output3="" l_dl=""
l_mname="hfs"
l_mtype="fs"
l_searchloc="/lib/modprobe.d/*.conf /usr/local/lib/modprobe.d/*.conf /run/modprobe.d/*.conf /etc/modprobe.d/*.conf"
l_mpath="/lib/modules/**/kernel/$l_mtype"
l_mpname="$(tr '-' ' ' <<< "$l_mname")"
l_mndir="$(tr '-' '/' <<< "$l_mname")"
# ... (same audit script pattern as 1.1.1.1 with l_mname="hfs")
module_loadable_chk()
{
l_loadable="$(modprobe -n -v "$l_mname")"
[ "$(wc -l <<< "$l_loadable")" -gt "1" ] && l_loadable="$(grep -P -- "(^\h*install|\b$l_mname)\b" <<< "$l_loadable")"
if grep -Pq -- '^\h*install \/bin\/(true|false)' <<< "$l_loadable"; then
l_output="$l_output\n - module: \"$l_mname\" is not loadable: \"$l_loadable\""
else
l_output2="$l_output2\n - module: \"$l_mname\" is loadable: \"$l_loadable\""
fi
}
module_loaded_chk()
{
if ! lsmod | grep "$l_mname" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
l_output="$l_output\n - module: \"$l_mname\" is not loaded"
else
l_output2="$l_output2\n - module: \"$l_mname\" is loaded"
fi
}
module_deny_chk()
{
l_dl="y"
if modprobe --showconfig | grep -Pq -- '^\h*blacklist\h+'"$l_mpname"'\b'; then
l_output="$l_output\n - module: \"$l_mname\" is deny listed in: \"$(grep -Pls -- "^\h*blacklist\h+$l_mname\b" $l_searchloc)\""
else
l_output2="$l_output2\n - module: \"$l_mname\" is not deny listed"
fi
}
for l_mdir in $l_mpath; do
if [ -d "$l_mdir/$l_mndir" ] && [ -n "$(ls -A $l_mdir/$l_mndir)" ]; then
l_output3="$l_output3\n - \"$l_mdir\""
[ "$l_dl" != "y" ] && module_deny_chk
if [ "$l_mdir" = "/lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/$l_mtype" ]; then
module_loadable_chk
module_loaded_chk
fi
else
l_output="$l_output\n - module: \"$l_mname\" doesn't exist in \"$l_mdir\""
fi
done
[ -n "$l_output3" ] && echo -e "\n\n -- INFO --\n - module: \"$l_mname\" exists in:$l_output3"
if [ -z "$l_output2" ]; then
echo -e "\n- Audit Result:\n ** PASS **\n$l_output\n"
else
echo -e "\n- Audit Result:\n ** FAIL **\n - Reason(s) for audit failure:\n$l_output2\n"
[ -n "$l_output" ] && echo -e "\n- Correctly set:\n$l_output\n"
fi
}
```
## Expected Result
- module: "hfs" is not loadable
- module: "hfs" is not loaded
- module: "hfs" is deny listed
## Remediation
### Command Line
If the module is available in the running kernel:
- Create a file with `install hfs /bin/false` in the `/etc/modprobe.d/` directory
- Create a file with `blacklist hfs` in the `/etc/modprobe.d/` directory
- Unload hfs from the kernel
If available in ANY installed kernel:
- Create a file with `blacklist hfs` in the `/etc/modprobe.d/` directory
If the kernel module is not available on the system or pre-compiled into the kernel:
- No remediation is necessary
## Default Value
Not disabled by default.
## References
1. NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: CM-7
## CIS Controls
v8 - 4.8 Uninstall or Disable Unnecessary Services on Enterprise Assets and Software (IG 2, IG 3)
v7 - 9.2 Ensure Only Approved Ports, Protocols and Services Are Running (IG 2, IG 3)
MITRE ATT&CK Mappings: T1005, T1005.000 (TA0005) - M1050
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