# yaml-language-server: $schema=../../../../schema/control.schema.json
id: CB-DEB-SVC-017
title: Keep the cron daemon enabled and running
finding:
  title: The cron daemon is installed but not running
  description: Scheduled maintenance and security jobs, such as log rotation or integrity checks, silently stop.
status: active
profiles: [core]
risk:
  severity: low
assessment: automated
tags: [cron, scheduling]

applicability:
  facts: [cron]

description: |
  `cron` runs the jobs in `/etc/crontab`, `/etc/cron.d/`, the `/etc/cron.hourly` to
  `/etc/cron.monthly` directories and the users' crontabs. When the package is installed,
  `cron.service` must be enabled and running.
rationale: |
  Packages and administrators rely on cron for periodic tasks: integrity checks, report mails,
  cleanup jobs. A stopped daemon disables them without any error message.
impact: |
  None known.
notes: |
  Debian cloud images do not install cron (systemd timers do the package maintenance); the
  control is then not applicable.

audit:
  manual: |
    `systemctl is-enabled cron` must print `enabled` and `systemctl is-active cron` must print
    `active`.
  logic: all
  checks:
    - id: enabled
      engine: systemd-unit
      description: cron is enabled.
      spec: { unit: cron.service, state: enabled }
    - id: active
      engine: shell
      description: cron is running.
      spec:
        script: systemctl is-active cron.service || exit 1

remediation:
  manual: |
    Run `systemctl unmask cron` if it is masked, then `systemctl enable --now cron`.
  effects:
    restart: none
    disruption: none
    lockout_risk: false
  rollback: |
    Run `systemctl disable --now cron`.
  scripts:
    - id: enabled
      from_check: enabled

references:
  - title: cron(8), Debian manual pages
    url: https://manpages.debian.org/trixie/cron/cron.8.en.html
    publisher: Debian
    kind: vendor-doc
    accessed: 2026-10-18
  - title: systemctl(1), Debian manual pages
    url: https://manpages.debian.org/trixie/systemd/systemctl.1.en.html
    publisher: Debian
    kind: vendor-doc
    accessed: 2026-10-18
mappings:
  - framework: nist-800-53r5
    framework_version: "5.1.1"
    id: CM-6
    relation: related
  - framework: cis-debian-12
    framework_version: "2.0.0"
    id: "2.4.1.1"
    relation: equivalent
  - framework: cis-debian-13
    framework_version: "1.1.0"
    id: "2.4.1.1"
    relation: equivalent
related_controls:
  - id: CB-DEB-SVC-018
    type: related

authors:
  - name: Alice
    github: Sn0wAlice
verified:
  - date: 2026-10-18
    by: Sn0wAlice
    versions: ["12"]
    environment: Proxmox VM, Debian 12 genericcloud image, kernel 6.1.0-54-cloud-amd64
    notes: "Not applicable on fresh image; passes with cron installed (enabled by default)."
  - date: 2026-10-18
    by: Sn0wAlice
    versions: ["13"]
    environment: Proxmox VM, Debian 13 genericcloud image, kernel 6.12.113+deb13-cloud-amd64
    notes: "Not applicable on fresh image; passes with cron installed (enabled by default)."
introduced_in: 0.1.0
created: 2026-10-18
updated: 2026-10-18