RHEL 9 /etc/passwd- file must be owned by root.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V-257908 | RHEL-09-232140 | SV-257908r925711_rule | Medium |
| Description |
|---|
| The "/etc/passwd-" file is a backup file of "/etc/passwd", and as such, contains information about the users that are configured on the system. 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-61649r925709_chk ) |
|---|
| Verify the ownership of the "/etc/passwd-" file with the following command: $ sudo stat -c "%U %n" /etc/passwd- root /etc/passwd- If "/etc/passwd-" file does not have an owner of "root", this is a finding. |
| Fix Text (F-61573r925710_fix) |
|---|
| Change the owner of the file /etc/passwd- to root by running the following command: $ sudo chown root /etc/passwd- |