Bad security model error in the net-snmpd.log file for the RSA Authentication Manager 8.x hardware appliance
Originally Published: 2019-03-01
Last Modified: 2023-11-30
Article Number
000040754
Applies To

RSA Product Set: SecurID
RSA Product/Service Type: Authentication Manager
RSA Version/Condition: 8.1SP1, 8.2, 8.3

Issue
After enabling SNMP via the Security Console (Setup > System Settings > Network Monitoring > Network Monitoring using SNMP v3) on an RSA Authentication Manager hardware appliance, the /var/log/net-snmpd.log file displays the following bad security model error: 
...
/etc/snmp/snmpd.conf: line 30: Error: bad security model, should be: v1, v2c or usm or a registered security plugin name 
net-snmp: 1 error(s) in config file(s) 
NET-SNMP version 5.4.2.1 
[smux_accept] accepted fd 14 from 127.0.0.1:42560 
accepted smux peer: oid SNMPv2-SMI::enterprises.674.10892.1, descr Systems Management SNMP MIB Plug-in Manager 
Got trap from peer on fd 14 
...

This error is occurs only on the RSA Authentication Manager hardware appliance. Therefore, if you use virtual appliances, you do not run into this error.


 
Cause
The error happens because by default the access directive entry in /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf has a misconfigured setting.

Although a context parameter for the access directive includes a space between double quotes (shown below in bold), the parameter should not include the space: 
...
# Allow Systems Management Data Engine SNMP to connect to snmpd using SMUX
smuxpeer .1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.1
view all included .1
access notConfigGroup " " any noauth exact all none none
...
Workaround
To workaround the issue, remove the space from the access directive.
  1. Launch an SSH client, such as PuTTY.
  2. Login to the primary Authentication Manager server as rsaadmin and enter the operating system password.

Note that during Quick Setup another user name may have been selected. Use that user name to login.

  1. Navigate to /etc/snmp:
cd /etc/snmp
  1. Copy the original /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf:
cp snmpd.conf snmpd.conf.bak
  1. Open /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf as root using a text editor
/etc/snmp> sudo vi /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf
rsaadmin's password: <enter operating system password>
  1. Scroll the the access notConfigGroup line.
  2. Delete the space between the double quotes.
Before:
access notConfigGroup " " any noauth exact all none none
After:
access notConfigGroup "" any noauth exact all none none
  1. Save and close /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf.
  2. Restart the snmpd service as root.
/sbin/service snmpd restart
  1. After that, /var/log/net-snmpd.log does not record the bad security model error:
Received TERM or STOP signal...  shutting down...

NET-SNMP version 5.4.2.1

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