---
title: "HOST-BOOT-004 USB Storage Driver Not Disabled"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-BOOT-004.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-BOOT-004.html
site: OpenVAPT, https://openvapt.com/
license: OpenVAPT Source-Available Licence 1.3, https://openvapt.com/legal/licence-text.html
modified: 2026-10-14
version: 0.1.0-alpha.6
---

# HOST-BOOT-004 USB Storage Driver Not Disabled

Checks that the usb-storage kernel module is disabled in modprobe.d on servers that do not need removable media.

- Domain: Server
- Severity: Medium
- Control category: Secure Configuration
- Fix effort: low
- CVSS v3.1 vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`
- CIS Controls v8: 4.8
- NIST CSF 2.0: PR.PS-01, PR.IR-01
- CWE: CWE-1188
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: MP-7, CM-7
- Benchmark topic: Disable USB storage (CIS Controls v8 4.8) (topic only, no benchmark text)

## Why It Matters

A USB stick plugged into a server is the simplest way to copy data out or bring malware in without touching the network. Disabling the driver makes the device invisible to the kernel.

## How It Detects

Reads /etc/modprobe.d/*.conf and /usr/lib/modprobe.d/*.conf for  install usb-storage /bin/false  (or /bin/true) or  blacklist usb-storage. Neither present fails; an unreadable file makes the check incomplete.

## How to Fix

Create /etc/modprobe.d/openvapt-usb.conf containing  install usb-storage /bin/false  and  blacklist usb-storage  then  modprobe -r usb-storage. Servers that need USB backups should record the exception instead.

## How to Verify

```
modprobe -n -v usb-storage  should print install /bin/false; lsmod | grep usb_storage  should print nothing.
```

## Learn the Theory

- [P17 Kernel, Filesystem and Boot Hardening](https://openvapt.com/academy/p17.md)

## References

- [modprobe.d(5), Linux man-pages](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man5/modprobe.d.5.html)
- [MITRE ATT&CK T1091, Replication Through Removable Media](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1091/)

## Source Code

https://github.com/OpenVAPT/openvapt/blob/574f7f3333c44b75a3c649e2d93a76d507f75adf/internal/checks/host/boot.go

Run it: `openvapt scan --only HOST-BOOT-004`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain HOST-BOOT-004`.

---

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