---
title: "HOST-TIME-001 Time Synchronisation Not Active"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-TIME-001.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-TIME-001.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-TIME-001 Time Synchronisation Not Active

Checks that the clock is kept in sync (chrony, ntpd or systemd-timesyncd).

- Domain: Server
- Severity: Low
- Control category: Logging and Monitoring
- Fix effort: low
- CVSS v3.1 vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N`
- CIS Controls v8: 8.4
- NIST CSF 2.0: PR.PS-04
- CWE: CWE-778
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: AU-8
- Benchmark topic: Time synchronisation (topic only, no benchmark text)

## Why It Matters

Accurate time is needed to correlate logs during an investigation, and TLS certificates and one-time-password codes fail when the clock drifts.

## How It Detects

Asks systemd whether chronyd, chrony, ntpd, ntp or systemd-timesyncd is active.

## How to Fix

Enable one time service, for example: systemctl enable --now systemd-timesyncd  (or install chrony).

## How to Verify

```
timedatectl  should show 'System clock synchronized: yes'.
```

## Learn the Theory

- [P16 Logging, Auditing and Time](https://openvapt.com/academy/p16.md)

## References

- [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5, Security and Privacy Controls](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/53/r5/upd1/final)

## Source Code

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

Run it: `openvapt scan --only HOST-TIME-001`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain HOST-TIME-001`.

---

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