How To Install OpenSCAP on AlmaLinux 10

Security compliance has become a critical requirement for modern enterprise environments. Organizations need robust tools to assess vulnerabilities and maintain regulatory compliance across their infrastructure. OpenSCAP emerges as a powerful solution for security auditing and compliance checking on Linux systems.

AlmaLinux 10, as the latest community-driven enterprise Linux distribution, provides an excellent foundation for secure computing environments. This Red Hat Enterprise Linux clone maintains binary compatibility while offering enterprise-grade stability and performance. When combined with OpenSCAP’s comprehensive security scanning capabilities, administrators gain the tools necessary to implement effective security postures.

This comprehensive guide walks you through installing OpenSCAP on AlmaLinux 10. You’ll learn essential installation methods, configuration steps, and practical scanning techniques. The article covers troubleshooting common issues and implementing best practices for continuous security monitoring.

Whether you’re managing a single server or enterprise-scale infrastructure, understanding OpenSCAP installation and configuration ensures your systems meet security standards like DISA STIG, NIST guidelines, and PCI-DSS compliance. Let’s begin with the foundational requirements for successful OpenSCAP deployment.

Prerequisites and System Requirements

System Requirements

Before installing OpenSCAP on AlmaLinux 10, verify your system meets minimum hardware specifications. Your server requires at least 2 GB of RAM to handle security scanning operations effectively. Allocate 20 GB of free disk space to accommodate OpenSCAP packages, security content, and generated reports.

CPU requirements remain modest for basic scanning operations. However, comprehensive enterprise scans benefit from multi-core processors to reduce scanning duration. Network connectivity proves essential for downloading packages and security content updates.

Confirm your AlmaLinux 10 installation functions properly before proceeding. Execute uname -r to verify kernel version and cat /etc/almalinux-release to confirm distribution details. These commands validate your system’s readiness for OpenSCAP installation.

Access Requirements

OpenSCAP installation requires root privileges or sudo access for system-wide package installation. Standard user accounts cannot install system packages or modify security configurations. Verify your account’s sudo permissions using sudo -l command.

Create dedicated service accounts for automated scanning operations. This approach enhances security by limiting privileged access during regular operations. Configure appropriate file permissions for scan results and reports to maintain data confidentiality.

Repository Prerequisites

AlmaLinux 10 includes OpenSCAP packages in the AppStream repository. Verify repository availability using dnf repolist command. The output should display enabled repositories including AppStream and BaseOS.

Update your package index before installation: sudo dnf makecache. This command refreshes repository metadata and ensures access to latest package versions. DNF package manager functionality requires working internet connectivity and properly configured repositories.

Understanding OpenSCAP and SCAP Protocol

What is OpenSCAP?

OpenSCAP represents a comprehensive security auditing framework designed for vulnerability assessment and compliance checking. This open-source tool evaluates system configurations against established security benchmarks and generates detailed compliance reports.

The framework supports multiple security standards including Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIG) from DISA, NIST cybersecurity frameworks, and industry-specific compliance requirements. OpenSCAP’s modular architecture enables integration with existing security tools and automated compliance workflows.

Unlike traditional vulnerability scanners, OpenSCAP focuses on configuration assessment and policy compliance. It examines system settings, installed packages, and security configurations to identify deviations from approved baselines. This approach proves particularly valuable for maintaining consistent security postures across multiple systems.

SCAP Components Overview

Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) provides standardized methods for expressing security policies and measuring compliance. The protocol consists of several interconnected standards working together to enable automated security assessment.

XCCDF (Extensible Configuration Checklist Description Format) defines security benchmarks and evaluation rules. These XML-formatted documents specify security requirements and testing procedures for various system components. XCCDF documents serve as the foundation for compliance assessments.

OVAL (Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language) provides detailed system state definitions and evaluation logic. OVAL definitions specify exact conditions for identifying security issues or verifying compliance status. This standardized approach ensures consistent evaluation results across different tools and environments.

CPE (Common Platform Enumeration) offers standardized naming conventions for IT platforms and systems. CPE identifiers enable precise targeting of security content to appropriate system types and versions.

OpenSCAP Package Components

The openscap package provides core libraries and evaluation tools for SCAP content processing. This primary component includes the oscap command-line tool for performing security assessments and generating compliance reports.

openscap-utils delivers additional command-line utilities for SCAP content manipulation and analysis. These tools enable content validation, profile customization, and result processing operations. The utilities package extends OpenSCAP’s functionality beyond basic scanning operations.

openscap-scanner enables advanced vulnerability scanning and configuration assessment capabilities. This component supports remote scanning operations and integration with centralized management systems.

scap-security-guide contains pre-configured security profiles and benchmarks for various compliance standards. The security guide includes profiles for government regulations, industry standards, and best-practice security configurations.

Installation Methods

Method 1: Standard DNF Installation (Primary Method)

The DNF package manager provides the most straightforward OpenSCAP installation method for AlmaLinux 10. Begin by updating your system packages to ensure compatibility with the latest security updates.

Execute the system update command:

sudo dnf update

This command downloads and installs available package updates. The update process may require several minutes depending on the number of available updates and network connectivity.

Install OpenSCAP core packages using the following command:

sudo dnf install openscap openscap-utils scap-security-guide

DNF automatically resolves dependencies and installs required supporting packages. The installation process typically includes libxslt, xmlsec1, and other XML processing libraries necessary for SCAP content evaluation.

Monitor installation progress through DNF’s output messages. Successful installation displays package installation confirmations and dependency resolution details. The process typically completes within 2-5 minutes depending on network speed.

Method 2: Individual Package Installation

Some environments require granular control over installed components. Individual package installation enables customized OpenSCAP deployments tailored to specific requirements.

Install the core OpenSCAP library:

sudo dnf install openscap

Add command-line utilities separately:

sudo dnf install openscap-utils

Install security content and profiles:

sudo dnf install scap-security-guide

This approach allows selective installation based on system roles and requirements. Development environments might skip certain components, while production systems require complete installations.

Installation Verification

Verify successful OpenSCAP installation using the version command:

oscap -V

This command displays OpenSCAP version information, supported SCAP specifications, and available capabilities. Successful output indicates proper installation and library availability.

Confirm package installation status:

dnf list installed | grep openscap

The output should display installed OpenSCAP packages with version numbers. Missing packages indicate incomplete installation requiring additional package installation commands.

Test basic functionality by listing available help options:

oscap --help

Comprehensive help output demonstrates successful installation and proper command-line tool configuration.

Post-Installation Configuration

Understanding SCAP Profiles

SCAP profiles define collections of security rules and configuration checks targeting specific compliance requirements. These pre-configured rule sets enable consistent security assessments across different systems and environments.

Government compliance profiles include DISA STIG configurations for military and federal systems. These profiles implement stringent security requirements mandated by defense organizations. NIST-based profiles support cybersecurity framework implementations for various industry sectors.

Industry-specific profiles address compliance requirements for healthcare (HIPAA), financial services (PCI-DSS), and other regulated industries. Each profile contains tailored security checks relevant to specific regulatory environments.

Listing Available Profiles

Discover available security profiles using the info command:

oscap info /usr/share/xml/scap/ssg/content/ssg-almalinux10-ds.xml

This command displays detailed profile information including descriptions, supported platforms, and included security rules. Profile descriptions help administrators select appropriate assessments for their environments.

Example profiles commonly available include:

• OSPP (Operating System Protection Profile) for high-security environments
• PCI-DSS for payment processing systems
• STIG for government and defense applications
• CIS Benchmarks for industry best practices

Initial Configuration Steps

Verify SCAP content installation location:

ls -la /usr/share/xml/scap/ssg/content/

The directory should contain security guide content files for AlmaLinux 10. Missing content indicates incomplete scap-security-guide installation.

Configure appropriate file permissions for scan results directories:

sudo mkdir -p /var/log/openscap
sudo chmod 755 /var/log/openscap

This setup provides centralized storage for scan results and reports. Proper permissions ensure accessibility while maintaining security.

Running Your First Security Scan

Basic Scan Command Structure

OpenSCAP scanning employs standardized command syntax for consistent operation across different profiles and content types. Understanding the basic command structure enables effective security assessment execution.

The fundamental scan command follows this pattern:

oscap xccdf eval --profile PROFILE_ID --results RESULTS_FILE --report REPORT_FILE CONTENT_FILE

Parameter explanations:

• --profile specifies the security profile for evaluation
• --results defines XML output file location
• --report creates HTML-formatted report
• Content file contains SCAP benchmark definitions

Practical Scan Examples

Execute a basic compliance scan using the OSPP profile:

oscap xccdf eval \
  --profile xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_profile_ospp \
  --results /tmp/ospp_results.xml \
  --report /tmp/ospp_report.html \
  /usr/share/xml/scap/ssg/content/ssg-almalinux10-ds.xml

This command evaluates system configuration against Operating System Protection Profile requirements. The scan examines security settings, user accounts, and system hardening configurations.

Perform PCI-DSS compliance assessment for payment processing environments:

oscap xccdf eval \
  --profile xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_profile_pci-dss \
  --results /var/log/openscap/pci_results.xml \
  --report /var/log/openscap/pci_report.html \
  /usr/share/xml/scap/ssg/content/ssg-almalinux10-ds.xml

PCI-DSS scans focus on payment card industry security requirements including encryption, access controls, and network security configurations.

Output Management

OpenSCAP generates multiple output formats to support different analysis requirements. XML results files contain detailed technical data suitable for automated processing and integration with security tools.

HTML reports provide human-readable summaries with color-coded compliance status indicators. These reports include remediation guidance and detailed finding descriptions for security teams.

Implement automated result archiving using date-stamped filenames:

DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)
oscap xccdf eval \
  --profile xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_profile_ospp \
  --results /var/log/openscap/scan_${DATE}.xml \
  --report /var/log/openscap/report_${DATE}.html \
  /usr/share/xml/scap/ssg/content/ssg-almalinux10-ds.xml

This approach maintains scan history and enables trend analysis over time.

Interpreting Scan Results and Reports

Understanding HTML Reports

HTML reports present scan results in accessible format with clear visual indicators for compliance status. Reports organize findings by severity level, making prioritization straightforward for security teams.

Color-coded status indicators provide immediate visual feedback:

• Green (Pass): Configuration meets security requirements
• Red (Fail): Security issue requires remediation
• Yellow (Not Selected): Rule not applicable to current profile
• Gray (Not Checked): Unable to evaluate due to system limitations

Navigate report sections using the table of contents. Rule details include remediation guidance, rationale explanations, and references to security standards. This comprehensive information enables informed decision-making about security improvements.

XML Results Analysis

Structured XML output enables automated processing and integration with security information and event management (SIEM) systems. XML results contain detailed technical data including rule definitions, evaluation results, and system state information.

Parse XML results using standard tools like xmllint or custom scripts. Extract specific findings for dashboard creation or compliance reporting. The structured format supports database import and analysis tool integration.

Common Findings and Remediation

Typical security findings include weak password policies, unnecessary service configurations, and inadequate file permissions. Prioritize remediation based on severity levels and potential security impact.

High-severity findings typically involve:

• Root account access controls
• Network service configurations
• Encryption settings for sensitive data

Address critical issues immediately while scheduling medium and low-priority items for regular maintenance windows.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Installation Problems

Repository access issues may prevent package installation. Verify network connectivity and DNS resolution using ping 8.8.8.8 and nslookup almalinux.org. Proxy configurations sometimes interfere with package downloads.

Resolve dependency conflicts by updating system packages before OpenSCAP installation. Conflicting package versions may require manual resolution using dnf remove followed by clean installation.

Address package corruption by clearing DNF cache:

sudo dnf clean all
sudo dnf makecache

Retry installation after cache refresh to resolve download-related issues.

Scan Execution Errors

Permission-related errors occur when scanning without appropriate privileges. OpenSCAP requires root access to examine system configurations and security settings. Execute scans using sudo or root account.

Missing SCAP content errors indicate incomplete security guide installation. Reinstall scap-security-guide package to resolve content availability issues:

sudo dnf reinstall scap-security-guide

Segmentation fault errors may occur with certain libxslt versions. This known issue affects AlmaLinux 9 and potentially AlmaLinux 10. Downgrade libxslt if encountering crashes during scan execution.

Performance and Resource Issues

Memory optimization becomes crucial for comprehensive scans on systems with limited RAM. Monitor memory usage during scans using top or htop commands. Consider breaking large scans into smaller profile-specific assessments.

CPU usage management prevents system overload during scanning operations. Use nice command to reduce scan process priority:

nice -n 10 oscap xccdf eval [scan parameters]

This approach maintains system responsiveness during lengthy scanning operations.

Best Practices and Security Considerations

Regular Scanning Schedule

Implement automated scanning schedules using cron jobs for consistent security monitoring. Weekly scans provide adequate coverage for most environments while minimizing system impact.

Create cron job for weekly scanning:

0 2 * * 0 /usr/bin/oscap xccdf eval --profile xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_profile_ospp --results /var/log/openscap/weekly_scan.xml --report /var/log/openscap/weekly_report.html /usr/share/xml/scap/ssg/content/ssg-almalinux10-ds.xml

Change management integration ensures scans occur after system modifications. Coordinate scanning schedules with maintenance windows and deployment activities.

Security Best Practices

Secure storage of scan results prevents unauthorized access to sensitive security information. Implement appropriate file permissions and consider encryption for highly sensitive environments.

Configure access controls limiting report access to authorized personnel. Use group-based permissions to manage security team access while preventing unauthorized disclosure.

Maintain audit trails documenting scan execution, result analysis, and remediation activities. These records support compliance reporting and security program effectiveness measurements.

Advanced Usage Scenarios

Custom profile development enables organization-specific security requirements. Modify existing profiles or create new assessments targeting unique environmental needs.

Multi-system scanning requires centralized coordination and result aggregation. Consider tools like Red Hat Satellite or Foreman for enterprise-scale OpenSCAP deployment.

Integrate OpenSCAP with configuration management tools like Ansible for automated remediation. This approach enables rapid security improvement deployment across multiple systems.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed OpenSCAP. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing OpenSCAP on your AlmaLinux OS 10 system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official OpenSCAP website.