Enable or Disable SELinux Boolean on Linux - Ansible module seboolean

How to automate the enabling of the "httpd_use_nfs" SELinux boolean and make it persistent after a reboot on Linux with Ansible.

December 17, 2021

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How to Enable or Disable SELinux Boolean on Linux with Ansible?

I’m going to show you a live demo with some simple Ansible code. I’m Luca Berton and welcome to today’s episode of Ansible Pilot.

SELinux Booleans

SELinux boolean - changes how SELinux reacts

What is SELinux? Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) is a Linux kernel security module that provides a mechanism for supporting access control security policies, including mandatory access controls (MAC). What are SELinux Booleans? An SELinux boolean is a single string that changes how SELinux reacts. You could find some examples in the following URL: https://www.redhat.com/sysadmin/change-selinux-settings-boolean

Ansible Enable or Disable SELinux Boolean on Linux

ansible.posix.seboolean
Toggles SELinux booleans

Today we’re talking about Ansible module seboolean. The full name is ansible.posix.seboolean, which means that is part of the collection of modules to interact with POSIX systems. It’s a module pretty stable and out for years, it toggles SELinux booleans. It supports a huge variety of Linux distributions and POSIX systems. It requires the python3-libsemanage or libsemanage-python package installed on the target system.

Parameters

name string - The name of the boolean
state boolean - no/yes
persistent boolean - no/yes
ignore_selinux_state boolean - no/yes

Let’s see the parameter of the seboolean Ansible module. The only mandatory parameters are “name” and “state”. The parameter “name” specifies the name of the SELinux boolean that we would like to modify. The parameter “state” allows you to enable or disable the SELinux boolean immediately in the running system. The parameter “persistent” allows you to specify if the state change is going to be applied to the next boot. The special parameter “ignore_selinux_state” is useful for scenarios (chrooted environment) where you can’t get the current SELinux state.

demo

Enable or Disable SELinux Boolean on Linux with Ansible Playbook.

code

---
- name: seboolean module demo
  hosts: all
  become: true
  vars:
    selinux_boolean: "httpd_use_nfs"
    selinux_value: true
  tasks:
    - name: package present
      ansible.builtin.package:
        name: "python3-libsemanage"
        state: present
   - name: set SELinux boolean
      ansible.posix.seboolean:
        name: "{{ selinux_boolean }}"
        state: "{{ selinux_value }}"
        persistent: true

execution

$ ansible-playbook -i virtualmachines/demo/inventory selinux/selinux_boolean.yml
PLAY [seboolean module demo] **********************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] ****************************************************************************
ok: [demo.example.com]
TASK [package present] ****************************************************************************
changed: [demo.example.com]
TASK [set SELinux boolean] ************************************************************************
changed: [demo.example.com]
PLAY RECAP ****************************************************************************************
demo.example.com           : ok=3    changed=2    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=0    rescued=0    ignored=0
ansible-pilot $

idempotency

$ ansible-playbook -i virtualmachines/demo/inventory selinux/selinux_boolean.yml
PLAY [seboolean module demo] **********************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] ****************************************************************************
ok: [demo.example.com]
TASK [package present] ****************************************************************************
ok: [demo.example.com]
TASK [set SELinux boolean] ************************************************************************
ok: [demo.example.com]
PLAY RECAP ****************************************************************************************
demo.example.com           : ok=3    changed=0    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=0    rescued=0    ignored=0
ansible-pilot $

before execution

$ ssh [email protected]
[devops@demo ~]$ sudo su
[root@demo devops]# sestatus
SELinux status:                 enabled
SELinuxfs mount:                /sys/fs/selinux
SELinux root directory:         /etc/selinux
Loaded policy name:             targeted
Current mode:                   enforcing
Mode from config file:          enforcing
Policy MLS status:              enabled
Policy deny_unknown status:     allowed
Memory protection checking:     actual (secure)
Max kernel policy version:      33
[root@demo devops]# getsebool -a
abrt_anon_write --> off
abrt_handle_event --> off
abrt_upload_watch_anon_write --> on
antivirus_can_scan_system --> off
antivirus_use_jit --> off
auditadm_exec_content --> on
authlogin_nsswitch_use_ldap --> off
authlogin_radius --> off
authlogin_yubikey --> off
awstats_purge_apache_log_files --> off
boinc_execmem --> on
cdrecord_read_content --> off
cluster_can_network_connect --> off
cluster_manage_all_files --> off
cluster_use_execmem --> off
cobbler_anon_write --> off
cobbler_can_network_connect --> off
cobbler_use_cifs --> off
cobbler_use_nfs --> off
collectd_tcp_network_connect --> off
colord_use_nfs --> off
condor_tcp_network_connect --> off
conman_can_network --> off
conman_use_nfs --> off
cron_can_relabel --> off
cron_system_cronjob_use_shares --> off
cron_userdomain_transition --> on
cups_execmem --> off
cvs_read_shadow --> off
daemons_dump_core --> off
daemons_enable_cluster_mode --> off
daemons_use_tcp_wrapper --> off
daemons_use_tty --> off
dbadm_exec_content --> on
dbadm_manage_user_files --> off
dbadm_read_user_files --> off
deny_bluetooth --> off
deny_execmem --> off
deny_ptrace --> off
dhcpc_exec_iptables --> off
dhcpd_use_ldap --> off
domain_can_mmap_files --> off
domain_can_write_kmsg --> off
domain_fd_use --> on
domain_kernel_load_modules --> off
entropyd_use_audio --> on
exim_can_connect_db --> off
exim_manage_user_files --> off
exim_read_user_files --> off
fcron_crond --> off
fenced_can_network_connect --> off
fenced_can_ssh --> off
fips_mode --> on
ftpd_anon_write --> off
ftpd_connect_all_unreserved --> off
ftpd_connect_db --> off
ftpd_full_access --> off
ftpd_use_cifs --> off
ftpd_use_fusefs --> off
ftpd_use_nfs --> off
ftpd_use_passive_mode --> off
git_cgi_enable_homedirs --> off
git_cgi_use_cifs --> off
git_cgi_use_nfs --> off
git_session_bind_all_unreserved_ports --> off
git_session_users --> off
git_system_enable_homedirs --> off
git_system_use_cifs --> off
git_system_use_nfs --> off
gitosis_can_sendmail --> off
glance_api_can_network --> off
glance_use_execmem --> off
glance_use_fusefs --> off
global_ssp --> off
gpg_web_anon_write --> off
gssd_read_tmp --> on
guest_exec_content --> on
haproxy_connect_any --> off
httpd_anon_write --> off
httpd_builtin_scripting --> on
httpd_can_check_spam --> off
httpd_can_connect_ftp --> off
httpd_can_connect_ldap --> off
httpd_can_connect_mythtv --> off
httpd_can_connect_zabbix --> off
httpd_can_network_connect --> off
httpd_can_network_connect_cobbler --> off
httpd_can_network_connect_db --> off
httpd_can_network_memcache --> off
httpd_can_network_relay --> off
httpd_can_sendmail --> off
httpd_dbus_avahi --> off
httpd_dbus_sssd --> off
httpd_dontaudit_search_dirs --> off
httpd_enable_cgi --> on
httpd_enable_ftp_server --> off
httpd_enable_homedirs --> off
httpd_execmem --> off
httpd_graceful_shutdown --> off
httpd_manage_ipa --> off
httpd_mod_auth_ntlm_winbind --> off
httpd_mod_auth_pam --> off
httpd_read_user_content --> off
httpd_run_ipa --> off
httpd_run_preupgrade --> off
httpd_run_stickshift --> off
httpd_serve_cobbler_files --> off
httpd_setrlimit --> off
httpd_ssi_exec --> off
httpd_sys_script_anon_write --> off
httpd_tmp_exec --> off
httpd_tty_comm --> off
httpd_unified --> off
httpd_use_cifs --> off
httpd_use_fusefs --> off
httpd_use_gpg --> off
httpd_use_nfs --> off
httpd_use_opencryptoki --> off
httpd_use_openstack --> off
httpd_use_sasl --> off
httpd_verify_dns --> off
icecast_use_any_tcp_ports --> off
init_audit_control --> off
init_create_dirs --> on
irc_use_any_tcp_ports --> off
irssi_use_full_network --> off
kdumpgui_run_bootloader --> off
keepalived_connect_any --> off
kerberos_enabled --> on
ksmtuned_use_cifs --> off
ksmtuned_use_nfs --> off
logadm_exec_content --> on
logging_syslogd_append_public_content --> off
logging_syslogd_can_sendmail --> off
logging_syslogd_list_non_security_dirs --> off
logging_syslogd_run_nagios_plugins --> off
logging_syslogd_use_tty --> on
login_console_enabled --> on
logrotate_read_inside_containers --> off
logrotate_use_cifs --> off
logrotate_use_fusefs --> off
logrotate_use_nfs --> off
logwatch_can_network_connect_mail --> off
lsmd_plugin_connect_any --> off
mailman_use_fusefs --> off
mcelog_client --> off
mcelog_exec_scripts --> on
mcelog_foreground --> off
mcelog_server --> off
minidlna_read_generic_user_content --> off
mmap_low_allowed --> off
mock_enable_homedirs --> off
mount_anyfile --> on
mozilla_plugin_bind_unreserved_ports --> off
mozilla_plugin_can_network_connect --> on
mozilla_plugin_use_bluejeans --> off
mozilla_plugin_use_gps --> off
mozilla_plugin_use_spice --> off
mozilla_read_content --> off
mpd_enable_homedirs --> off
mpd_use_cifs --> off
mpd_use_nfs --> off
mplayer_execstack --> off
mysql_connect_any --> off
mysql_connect_http --> off
nagios_run_pnp4nagios --> off
nagios_run_sudo --> off
nagios_use_nfs --> off
named_tcp_bind_http_port --> off
named_write_master_zones --> on
neutron_can_network --> off
nfs_export_all_ro --> on
nfs_export_all_rw --> on
nfsd_anon_write --> off
nis_enabled --> off
nscd_use_shm --> on
openshift_use_nfs --> off
openvpn_can_network_connect --> on
openvpn_enable_homedirs --> on
openvpn_run_unconfined --> off
pcp_bind_all_unreserved_ports --> off
pcp_read_generic_logs --> off
pdns_can_network_connect_db --> off
piranha_lvs_can_network_connect --> off
polipo_connect_all_unreserved --> off
polipo_session_bind_all_unreserved_ports --> off
polipo_session_users --> off
polipo_use_cifs --> off
polipo_use_nfs --> off
polyinstantiation_enabled --> off
postfix_local_write_mail_spool --> on
postgresql_can_rsync --> off
postgresql_selinux_transmit_client_label --> off
postgresql_selinux_unconfined_dbadm --> on
postgresql_selinux_users_ddl --> on
pppd_can_insmod --> off
pppd_for_user --> off
privoxy_connect_any --> on
prosody_bind_http_port --> off
puppetagent_manage_all_files --> off
puppetmaster_use_db --> off
racoon_read_shadow --> off
radius_use_jit --> off
redis_enable_notify --> off
rpcd_use_fusefs --> off
rsync_anon_write --> off
rsync_client --> off
rsync_export_all_ro --> off
rsync_full_access --> off
rsync_sys_admin --> off
samba_create_home_dirs --> off
samba_domain_controller --> off
samba_enable_home_dirs --> off
samba_export_all_ro --> off
samba_export_all_rw --> off
samba_load_libgfapi --> off
samba_portmapper --> off
samba_run_unconfined --> off
samba_share_fusefs --> off
samba_share_nfs --> off
sanlock_enable_home_dirs --> off
sanlock_use_fusefs --> off
sanlock_use_nfs --> off
sanlock_use_samba --> off
saslauthd_read_shadow --> off
secadm_exec_content --> on
secure_mode --> off
secure_mode_insmod --> off
secure_mode_policyload --> off
selinuxuser_direct_dri_enabled --> on
selinuxuser_execheap --> off
selinuxuser_execmod --> on
selinuxuser_execstack --> on
selinuxuser_mysql_connect_enabled --> off
selinuxuser_ping --> on
selinuxuser_postgresql_connect_enabled --> off
selinuxuser_rw_noexattrfile --> on
selinuxuser_share_music --> off
selinuxuser_tcp_server --> off
selinuxuser_udp_server --> off
selinuxuser_use_ssh_chroot --> off
sge_domain_can_network_connect --> off
sge_use_nfs --> off
smartmon_3ware --> off
smbd_anon_write --> off
spamassassin_can_network --> off
spamd_enable_home_dirs --> on
spamd_update_can_network --> off
squid_connect_any --> on
squid_use_tproxy --> off
ssh_chroot_rw_homedirs --> off
ssh_keysign --> off
ssh_sysadm_login --> off
ssh_use_tcpd --> off
sslh_can_bind_any_port --> off
sslh_can_connect_any_port --> off
sssd_access_kernel_keys --> off
sssd_connect_all_unreserved_ports --> off
staff_exec_content --> on
staff_use_svirt --> off
swift_can_network --> off
sysadm_exec_content --> on
telepathy_connect_all_ports --> off
telepathy_tcp_connect_generic_network_ports --> on
tftp_anon_write --> off
tftp_home_dir --> off
tmpreaper_use_cifs --> off
tmpreaper_use_nfs --> off
tmpreaper_use_samba --> off
tomcat_can_network_connect_db --> off
tomcat_read_rpm_db --> off
tomcat_use_execmem --> off
tor_bind_all_unreserved_ports --> off
tor_can_network_relay --> off
tor_can_onion_services --> off
unconfined_chrome_sandbox_transition --> on
unconfined_dyntrans_all --> off
unconfined_login --> on
unconfined_mozilla_plugin_transition --> on
unprivuser_use_svirt --> off
use_ecryptfs_home_dirs --> off
use_fusefs_home_dirs --> off
use_lpd_server --> off
use_nfs_home_dirs --> off
use_samba_home_dirs --> off
use_virtualbox --> off
user_exec_content --> on
varnishd_connect_any --> off
virt_lockd_blk_devs --> off
virt_qemu_ga_read_nonsecurity_files --> off
virt_read_qemu_ga_data --> off
virt_rw_qemu_ga_data --> off
virt_sandbox_share_apache_content --> off
virt_sandbox_use_all_caps --> on
virt_sandbox_use_audit --> on
virt_sandbox_use_fusefs --> off
virt_sandbox_use_mknod --> off
virt_sandbox_use_netlink --> off
virt_sandbox_use_sys_admin --> off
virt_transition_userdomain --> off
virt_use_comm --> off
virt_use_execmem --> off
virt_use_fusefs --> off
virt_use_glusterd --> off
virt_use_nfs --> off
virt_use_pcscd --> off
virt_use_rawip --> off
virt_use_samba --> off
virt_use_sanlock --> off
virt_use_usb --> on
virt_use_xserver --> off
webadm_manage_user_files --> off
webadm_read_user_files --> off
wine_mmap_zero_ignore --> off
xdm_bind_vnc_tcp_port --> off
xdm_exec_bootloader --> off
xdm_manage_bootloader --> on
xdm_sysadm_login --> off
xdm_write_home --> off
xen_use_nfs --> off
xend_run_blktap --> on
xend_run_qemu --> on
xguest_connect_network --> on
xguest_exec_content --> on
xguest_mount_media --> on
xguest_use_bluetooth --> on
xserver_clients_write_xshm --> off
xserver_execmem --> off
xserver_object_manager --> off
zabbix_can_network --> off
zabbix_run_sudo --> off
zarafa_setrlimit --> off
zebra_write_config --> off
zoneminder_anon_write --> off
zoneminder_run_sudo --> off
[root@demo devops]# getsebool httpd_use_nfs
httpd_use_nfs --> off
[root@demo devops]#

after execution

$ ssh [email protected]
[devops@demo ~]$ sudo su
[root@demo devops]# getsebool httpd_use_nfs
httpd_use_nfs --> on
[root@demo devops]# reboot
Connection to demo.example.com closed by remote host.
Connection to demo.example.com closed.
ansible-pilot $ ssh [email protected]
[devops@demo ~]$ sudo su
[root@demo devops]# getsebool httpd_use_nfs
httpd_use_nfs --> on
[root@demo devops]#

code with ❤️ in GitHub

Recap

Now you know how to Enable or Disable SELinux Boolean and make it persistent after a reboot on Linux with Ansible. Subscribe to the YouTube channel, Medium, and Website, X (formerly Twitter) to not miss the next episode of the Ansible Pilot.