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

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-257900RHEL-09-232100SV-257900r991589_ruleCCI-000366medium
Description
The "/etc/group-" file is a backup file of "/etc/group", and as such, contains information regarding groups that are configured on the system. Protection of this file is important for system security.
STIGDate
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide2025-05-14

Details

Check Text (C-257900r991589_chk)

Verify the ownership of the "/etc/group-" file with the following command: $ sudo stat -c "%U %n" /etc/group- root /etc/group- If "/etc/group-" file does not have an owner of "root", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-61565r925686_fix)

Change the owner of the file /etc/group- to root by running the following command: $ sudo chown root /etc/group-