Verify Group Who Owns gshadow File
Description
To properly set the group owner of /etc/gshadow, run the command:
$ sudo chgrp shadow /etc/gshadow
Rationale
The /etc/gshadow file contains group password hashes. Protection of this file
is critical for system security.
Shell script
The following script can be run on the host to remediate the issue.
#!/bin/bash
chgrp -L 42 /etc/gshadow
Ansible playbook
The following playbook can be run with Ansible to remediate the issue.
- name: Test for existence /etc/gshadow
stat:
path: /etc/gshadow
register: file_exists
tags:
- NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
- NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
- configure_strategy
- file_groupowner_etc_gshadow
- low_complexity
- low_disruption
- medium_severity
- no_reboot_needed
- name: Ensure group owner 42 on /etc/gshadow
file:
path: /etc/gshadow
group: '42'
when: file_exists.stat is defined and file_exists.stat.exists
tags:
- NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
- NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
- configure_strategy
- file_groupowner_etc_gshadow
- low_complexity
- low_disruption
- medium_severity
- no_reboot_needed
