Using client-related Tanium content
The Tanium™ core platform includes Tanium content that facilitates Tanium Client administration.
Initial Content
The Initial Content pack is imported when you initially log into the Tanium Console. It contains a key set of saved questions, packages, and sensors you use to get data from endpoints and take actions, including the saved questions and scheduled actions related to the deployment of the Tanium Client itself.
To familiarize yourself with the Tanium Client-related Initial Content:
- Go to Actions > Scheduled Actions and review the actions that are scheduled to run against the action group named Default.
- Go to Authoring > Sensors and search for client-related sensors.
- Go to Authoring > Packages and search for client-related packages.
- Go to Authoring > Saved Questions and search for client-related questions.
Client Maintenance
The Client Maintenance content pack facilitates the cleanup of stale Tanium data on Tanium Client host computers. It is imported when you initially log into the Tanium Console. The questions, packages, and scheduled actions are used to keep the Tanium footprint light on client host computers. The Client Maintenance scheduled action is set to run every four hours.
| Content | Object name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Saved questions | Clean Stale Tanium Client Data Scheduled Action | Returns the set of machines that have stale Tanium Client data. |
| Tanium Client Action Folder Sizes | Returns the combined size of all Action_XXXX subdirectories in the Tanium Client\Downloads directory. | |
| Packages | Clean Stale Tanium Client Data | File: clean-stale-tanium-client-data.vbs
Command: cmd /c cscript //T:1200 clean-stale-tanium-client-data.vbs /StaleDownloadsRestart:True /MaxClientRAMInMB:200 Timeout: 1200 |
| Clean Tanium Client Action Folders | File: clean-action-dirs.vbs
Command: cmd /c cscript.exe clean-action-dirs.vbs /FolderAgeThresholdInMinutes:120 Timeout: 900 |
|
| Sensors | Has Stale Tanium Client Data | Evaluates whether a machine has stale Tanium Client data. Data includes long running processes, old action status and log files, action folders, and sensor output.
Example answer: Yes |
| Tanium Client Action Folder Sizes | Returns the combined size of all Action_XXXX subdirectories in the Tanium Client\Downloads directory.
Example answer: 351 MB |
|
| Scheduled actions | Tanium - Clean Stale Tanium Client Data | Removes stale data from Tanium Client directory. Safely kills any stale sensor or action processes. Action processes are only terminated when they are run from the Downloads directory.
By default, runs every four hours and is not distributed over time. |
We recommend you use the default settings. The configuration is open for testing and troubleshooting purposes.
To edit the Client Maintenance scheduled action:
- Go to Actions > Scheduled Actions, find the "clean stale client data" action, and click Edit.
- Review the package and action details. You can make changes to the Schedule Deployment settings and Action Group assignment.
Client Upgrade
The Client Upgrade content pack facilitates upgrade of the Tanium Client on Windows computers. It is available in all deployments and listed as Core content on the Tanium Solutions page.
| Content | Object name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Saved questions | Windows Clients Older Than 6.0.314.1450 For Targeting | A targeting question designed to return Tanium Clients on Windows that have not been upgraded to the latest version. |
| Packages | Update Tanium Client 6.0.314.1450 | Files:
SetupClient.exe,
set-service-permissions-back-to-default.vbs
Command: cmd /c start /B "" cmd /c "cscript.exe set-service-permissions-back-to-default.vbs & net stop "Tanium Client" & net stop "TaniumClient" & taskkill /f /im taniumclient.exe & SetupClient.exe /S & net start "Tanium Client" & net start "TaniumClient"" Timeout: 900 |
| Sensors | Client Brand | Use to fine-tune a targeting question. |
| Scheduled actions | Update Any Tanium Client to 6.0.314.1450 | By default, runs every hour and is distributed over 15 minutes. |
To upgrade Windows clients:
- Go to Tanium Solutions, scroll to the Tanium Content table, select the Client Upgrade solution, and click Import Solution.
- Review the list of content objects and click Proceed with Import.
- Go to Authoring > Saved Questions, find and select the "old windows client" question, and click Load.
- In the results grid, select the Target results rows and then click Deploy Action.
- Verify the package and action details and then scroll down to preview the action.
- Review the targeting criteria and then execute the action by clicking Deploy Action.
- Review the status to confirm expected results.
The page reloads to display the Action Summary. 
Client Service Hardening
The Client Service Hardening content pack includes saved questions, packages, and scheduled actions that you can use to restrict how the Tanium Client can be accessed from the local Windows system.
The Tanium Client installs as a normal application on Windows. While the protocols used to communicate with the Tanium Server and peer clients are designed to be secure and prevent rogue sensors or actions, it is still imperative that the Tanium Client itself be protected from an attacker or just a tinkering end user.
| Content | Object name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Categories | Client Service Hardening | Contains dashboards related to this content. |
| Dashboards | Control Service State Permissions |
Controlling which accounts have permissions to start and stop services is often the first, and most effective, way you can protect the integrity of your Tanium Client deployment.
Many organizations have given some or all of their end users permissions to be a local administrator. For this reason, Tanium typically recommends you restrict service control to the local SYSTEM account instead. |
| Set Client Directory Permissions | Default permissions allow several user types to view or modify files in the Tanium Client directory. While this does not mean that an attacker could cause the agent to run sensors or packages that were not issued by the Tanium Server, because these actions are digitally signed, it could lead to performance issues or extra bandwidth consumption while the information is re-synchronized. Setting the file system permissions to SYSTEM is recommended. | |
| Hide From Add-Remove Programs | Controlling whether or not the Tanium Client is viewable in the Add/Remove Programs or simply Programs menu does not directly affect the security of the agent by itself. A user with permissions to uninstall an application would also be able to launch the uninstall manually. This is a useful layer that will help reduce accidental uninstallations and preempt the more inquisitive end users from trying to tamper with the agent. Hiding the client from Add/Remove Programs is considered a best practice and should be used alongside of regular audits of unmanaged assets to look for systems with missing or non-functioning agents. | |
| Saved questions | Tanium Client Service Control Permissions | Get Tanium Client Service Control Status containing "Service Control" from all machines with Tanium Client Service Control Status containing "Service Control" |
| Tanium Client Directory Permissions | Get Tanium Client Directory Permissions from all machines | |
| Tanium Client Visible in Add-Remove Programs | Get Tanium Client Uninstall Hidden containing "No" from all machines with Tanium Client Uninstall Hidden containing "No" | |
| Tanium Client Hidden From Add-Remove Programs | Get Tanium Client Uninstall Hidden containing "Yes" from all machines with Tanium Client Uninstall Hidden containing "Yes" | |
| Scheduled actions | Control Service State Permissions | Grant permission to start/stop Tanium Client service to only the local administrator or local system account. |
| Hide From Add-Remove Programs | Hide the Tanium Client from the Windows Add-Remove Programs list. | |
| Packages | Client Service Hardening - Allow Only Local Admins to Control Service | Files:
allow-only-admins-to-control-service.vbs
Command: cmd /c cscript.exe allow-only-admins-to-control-service.vbs Timeout: 900 |
| Client Service Hardening - Allow Only Local SYSTEM to Control Service | Files:
allow-only-local-system-to-control-services.vbs
Command: cmd /c cscript.exe allow-only-local-system-to-control-services.vbs Timeout: 600 |
|
| Client Service Hardening - Reset permissions on Tanium Client directory | Files:
reset_directory_permissions.vbs
Command: cmd /c cscript //T:60 reset_directory_permissions.vbs Timeout: 600 |
|
| Client Service Hardening - Set SYSTEM only permissions on Tanium Client directory | Files:
modify_directory_permissions.vbs
Command: cmd /c cscript //T:60 modify_directory_permissions.vbs Timeout: 600 |
|
| Client Service Hardening - Set Service Permissions to Defaults | Files:
set-service-permissions-back-to-default.vbs
Command: cmd /c cscript.exe set-service-permissions-back-to-default.vbs Timeout: 600 |
|
| Client Service Hardening - Hide Client from Add-Remove Programs | File: hide-client-from-add-remove.vbs
Command: cmd /c cscript.exe hide-client-from-add-remove.vbs Timeout: 600 |
|
| Client Service Hardening - Show Client in Add-Remove Programs | Files:
show-client-in-add-remove-programs.vbs
Command: cmd /c cscript.exe show-client-in-add-remove-programs.vbs Timeout: 600 |
|
| Sensors | Tanium Client Directory Permissions |
Returns the current status of the Tanium Client directories permissions and if they have been set as restricted to SYSTEM.
Example: Restricted - SYSTEM |
| Tanium Client Service Control Status |
Returns whether the Tanium Client service has special permissions set such that regular users, or non-SYSTEM users, can control the service.
Example: Service Control Restricted to Administrators |
|
| Tanium Client Uninstall Hidden |
Returns whether the Tanium Client is hidden from the Add-Remove programs list.
Example: Yes |
The following workflow shows how to use the Client Service Hardening content pack to hide the Tanium Client from the Windows Add-Remove Programs list:
- Go to Tanium Solutions, scroll to the Tanium Content table, select the Client Service Hardening solution, and click Import Solution.
- Review the list of content objects and click Proceed with Import.
- Go to Interact > Categories and browse to Client Service Hardening.
- Click a question to drill into the saved question page for it.
- Select the appropriate results row and click Deploy Action to display the configuration page.
- Verify the package and action details and then scroll down to preview the action.
- Click Deploy Action to initiate the action.
- Review the status to confirm expected results.
The page reloads to display the Action Summary.
Last updated: 7/31/2018 2:54 PM | Feedback