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The Photon operating system must audit all account modifications.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-239116 PHTN-67-000045 SV-239116r816628_rule Medium
Description
Once an attacker establishes access to a system, the attacker often attempts to create a persistent method of reestablishing access. One way to accomplish this is for the attacker to modify an existing account. Auditing account modification actions provides logging that can be used for forensic purposes. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000239-GPOS-00089, SRG-OS-000303-GPOS-00120, SRG-OS-000304-GPOS-00121
STIG Date
VMware vSphere 6.7 Photon OS Security Technical Implementation Guide 2022-01-03

Details

Check Text ( C-42327r816626_chk )
At the command line, execute the following command:

# auditctl -l | grep -E "(/etc/passwd|/etc/shadow|/etc/group|/etc/gshadow)"

Expected result:

-w /etc/passwd -p wa -k passwd
-w /etc/shadow -p wa -k shadow
-w /etc/group -p wa -k group
-w /etc/gshadow -p wa -k gshadow

If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.

Note: This check depends on the auditd service to be in a running state for accurate results. Enabling the auditd service is done as part of a separate control.
Fix Text (F-42286r816627_fix)
Open /etc/audit/rules.d/audit.STIG.rules with a text editor and add the following lines:

-w /etc/passwd -p wa -k passwd
-w /etc/shadow -p wa -k shadow
-w /etc/group -p wa -k group
-w /etc/gshadow -p wa -k gshadow

At the command line, execute the following command:

# /sbin/augenrules --load