Verify Permissions on Backup passwd File
Description
To properly set the permissions of /etc/passwd-, run the command:
$ sudo chmod 0644 /etc/passwd-
Rationale
The /etc/passwd- file is a backup file of /etc/passwd, and as such,
it 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
chmod u-xs,g-xws,o-xwt /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:
- NIST-800-53-AC-6 (1)
- PCI-DSS-Req-8.7.c
- PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
- configure_strategy
- file_permissions_backup_etc_passwd
- low_complexity
- low_disruption
- medium_severity
- no_reboot_needed
- name: Ensure permission u-xs,g-xws,o-xwt on /etc/passwd-
file:
path: /etc/passwd-
mode: u-xs,g-xws,o-xwt
when: file_exists.stat is defined and file_exists.stat.exists
tags:
- NIST-800-53-AC-6 (1)
- PCI-DSS-Req-8.7.c
- PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
- configure_strategy
- file_permissions_backup_etc_passwd
- low_complexity
- low_disruption
- medium_severity
- no_reboot_needed
