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.

Source: http://rootkit.nl/projects/lynis.html
Lynis Homepage | Kali Lynis Repo

  • Author: Michael Boelen
  • License: GPLv3

Tools included in the lynis package

lynis – Open source security auditing tool
[email protected]:~# lynis -h

[ Lynis 1.4.1 ]

################################################################################
 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.

 Copyright 2007-2014 - Michael Boelen, http://cisofy.com
 Enterprise support and plugins available via CISOfy - http://cisofy.com
################################################################################

[+] Initializing program
------------------------------------
  Scan options:
    --auditor "<name>"            : Auditor name
    --check-all (-c)              : Check system
    --no-log                      : Don't create a log file
    --profile <profile>           : Scan the system with the given profile file
    --quick (-Q)                  : Quick mode, don't wait for user input
    --tests "<tests>"             : Run only tests defined by <tests>
    --tests-category "<category>" : Run only tests defined by <category>

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

  Misc options:
    --check-update                : Check for updates
    --view-manpage (--man)        : View man page
    --version (-V)                : Display version number and quit

  See man page and documentation for all available options.

Exiting..

lynis Usage Example

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

[email protected]:~# lynis -Q --cronjob

[ Lynis 1.5.5 ]

################################################################################
 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.

 Copyright 2007-2014 - Michael Boelen, http://cisofy.com
 Enterprise support and plugins available via CISOfy - http://cisofy.com
################################################################################

[+] Initializing program
------------------------------------
- Detecting OS...  [ DONE ]
- Clearing log file (/var/log/lynis.log)...  [ DONE ]

  ---------------------------------------------------
  Program version:           1.5.5
  Operating system:          Linux
  Operating system name:     Debian
  Operating system version:  Kali Linux 1.0.9
  Kernel version:            3.14-kali1-686-pae
  Hardware platform:         i686
  Hostname:                  kali
  Auditor:                   [Unknown]
  Profile:                   /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
  ---------------------------------------------------
- Checking profile file (/etc/lynis/default.prf)...