cyberstrikeus 6.1.1 Ensure permissions on /etc/passwd are configured (Automated)
Description
The /etc/passwd file contains user account information that is used by many system utilities and therefore must be readable for these utilities to operate.
Rationale
It is critical to ensure that the /etc/passwd file is protected from unauthorized write access. Although it is protected by default, the file permissions could be changed either inadvertently or through malicious actions.
Audit Procedure
Run the following command and verify Uid and Gid are both 0/root and Access is 644:
# stat /etc/passwd
Access: (0644/-rw-r--r--) Uid: ( 0/ root) Gid: ( 0/ root)
Expected Result
Uid and Gid should both be 0/root and Access should be 644.
Remediation
Run the following command to set permissions on /etc/passwd:
# chown root:root /etc/passwd
# chmod 644 /etc/passwd
CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v8 | 3.3 Configure Data Access Control Lists | x | x | x |
| v7 | 16.4 Encrypt or Hash all Authentication Credentials | x | x |
Profile
- Level 1 - Server