RHEL 9 /etc/passwd file must have mode 0644 or less permissive to prevent unauthorized access.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-257895 | RHEL-09-232075 | SV-257895r991589_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| If the "/etc/passwd" file is writable by a group-owner or the world the risk of its compromise is increased. The file contains the list of accounts on the system and associated information, and protection of this file is critical for system security. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-14 | |||
Related Frameworks
4 paths across 3 frameworks
Related Frameworks
NIST 800-531 mapping
CM-6
1.00
- DISA · 2 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
NIST 800-1712 mappings
3.4.1
1.00
- DISA · 2 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
3.4.2
1.00
- DISA · 2 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
CCI1 mapping
CCI-000366
1.00
- DISA · 2 · disa_xccdf · related
Details
Check Text (C-257895r991589_chk)
Verify that the "/etc/passwd" file has mode "0644" or less permissive with the following command:
$ sudo stat -c "%a %n" /etc/passwd
644 /etc/passwd
If a value of "0644" or less permissive is not returned, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-61560r925671_fix)
Change the mode of the file "/etc/passwd" to "0644" by running the following command:
$ sudo chmod 0644 /etc/passwd