FreeBSD Security Checklist

1. System Updates and Patch Management

Keep the base system updated:
freebsd-update fetch install
Update installed packages:
pkg update && pkg upgrade
Subscribe to the FreeBSD security notifications mailing list
Set up automatic security updates using cron jobs

2. Secure Boot and Disk Encryption

Implement secure boot with UEFI
Use GELI for full disk encryption:
geli init /dev/ada0

geli attach /dev/ada0
Configure loader.conf for encrypted root filesystem

3. Network Security

Configure and enable PF (Packet Filter) firewall:
sysrc pf_enable="YES"

service pf start
Implement strict firewall rules in /etc/pf.conf
Disable unnecessary network services in /etc/rc.conf
Use SSH key-based authentication and disable password authentication
Change SSH default port in /etc/ssh/sshd_config

4. Access Control and Authentication

Implement strong password policies
Use PAM modules for advanced authentication mechanisms
Enable and configure sudo for privileged access:
pkg install sudo
Implement two-factor authentication for critical services

5. File System Security

Use appropriate file system permissions
Implement Access Control Lists (ACLs) for fine-grained control
Enable and configure filesystem quotas
Use mtree to verify system file integrity

6. Jails and Service Isolation

Use jails to isolate services:
jail -c path=/jails/myjail host.hostname=myjail.local ip4.addr=192.168.1.100 command=/bin/sh
Configure resource limits for jails
Implement VNET for advanced network isolation in jails

7. Auditing and Logging

Enable and configure security event auditing:
sysrc auditd_enable="YES"

service auditd start
Configure syslogd for comprehensive system logging
Set up log rotation to manage log files effectively
Use newsyslog.conf to configure log file management

8. Mandatory Access Controls

Enable and configure MAC (Mandatory Access Control) framework
Implement MAC policies like biba, lomac, or mls
Use mac_seeotheruids module to restrict users from seeing other users' processes

9. Application Security

Use Capsicum for capability-based security in applications
Implement securelevels to restrict runtime system modifications
Use chroot environments for applications when appropriate

10. Monitoring and Intrusion Detection

Install and configure an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) like Snort or Suricata
Use tools like tripwire for file integrity monitoring
Implement centralized logging for easier monitoring and analysis

Pro Tip:

Regularly review the FreeBSD Handbook and security advisories for the most up-to-date security practices and vulnerability information. Always test security configurations in a non-production environment before applying them to critical systems.