The TOSS 5 /etc/passwd file must have mode 0644 or less permissive to prevent unauthorized access.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-282648 | TOSS-05-000152 | SV-282648r1201583_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| If the "/etc/passwd" file is writable by a group owner or the world, it increases the risk of compromise. 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 | |||
| Tri-Lab Operating System Stack (TOSS) 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-04-01 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-282648r1201583_chk)
Verify the "/etc/passwd" file has mode "0644" or less permissive using 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-87114r1200923_fix)
Change the mode of the file "/etc/passwd" to "0644" using the following command:
$ sudo chmod 0644 /etc/passwd