Verify Group Who Owns passwd File
Description
To properly set the group owner of /etc/passwd, run the command:
$ sudo chgrp root /etc/passwd
Rationale
The /etc/passwd file contains information about the users that are configured on
the system. 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 0 /etc/passwd
Ansible playbook
The following playbook can be run with Ansible to remediate the issue.
- name: Test for existence /etc/passwd
stat:
path: /etc/passwd
register: file_exists
tags:
- CJIS-5.5.2.2
- NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
- NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
- PCI-DSS-Req-8.7.c
- PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
- configure_strategy
- file_groupowner_etc_passwd
- low_complexity
- low_disruption
- medium_severity
- no_reboot_needed
- name: Ensure group owner 0 on /etc/passwd
file:
path: /etc/passwd
group: '0'
when: file_exists.stat is defined and file_exists.stat.exists
tags:
- CJIS-5.5.2.2
- NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
- NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
- PCI-DSS-Req-8.7.c
- PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
- configure_strategy
- file_groupowner_etc_passwd
- low_complexity
- low_disruption
- medium_severity
- no_reboot_needed
