AlmaLinux OS 9 /etc/shadow file must have mode 0000 to prevent unauthorized access.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-269231 | ALMA-09-017180 | SV-269231r1050113_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| The "/etc/shadow" file contains the list of local system accounts and stores password hashes. Protection of this file is critical for system security. Failure to give ownership of this file to root provides the designated owner with access to sensitive information, which could weaken the system security posture. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| CloudLinux AlmaLinux OS 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-22 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-269231r1050113_chk)
Verify that the "/etc/shadow" file has mode "0000" with the following command:
$ stat -c "%a %n" /etc/shadow
0 /etc/shadow
If a value of "0" is not returned, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-73163r1048070_fix)
Change the mode of the file "/etc/shadow" to "0000" by running the following command:
$ chmod 0000 /etc/shadow