RHEL 9 /etc/gshadow file must be group-owned by root.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-257903	RHEL-09-232115	SV-257903r925696_rule		Medium

Description
The "/etc/gshadow" file contains group password hashes. Protection of this file is critical for system security.

STIG	Date
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-12-01

Details

Check Text ( C-61644r925694_chk )
Verify the group ownership of the "/etc/gshadow" file with the following command: $ sudo stat -c "%G %n" /etc/gshadow root /etc/gshadow If "/etc/gshadow" file does not have a group owner of "root", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-61568r925695_fix)
Change the group of the file /etc/gshadow to root by running the following command: $ sudo chgrp root /etc/gshadow