cyberstrikeus CIS Ubuntu Linux 16.04 LTS Benchmark v2.0.0 - 1.4.4
Profile Applicability
- Level 1 - Server
- Level 1 - Workstation
Description
Single user mode is used for recovery when the system detects an issue during boot or by manual selection from the bootloader.
Rationale
Requiring authentication in single user mode prevents an unauthorized user from rebooting the system into single user to gain root privileges without credentials.
Audit Procedure
Command Line
Perform the following to determine if a password is set for the root user:
grep -Eq '^root:\$[0-9]' /etc/shadow || echo "root is locked"
No results should be returned.
Expected Result
The command should return no output, indicating root has a password set. If "root is locked" is returned, root does not have a password set.
Remediation
Command Line
Run the following command and follow the prompts to set a password for the root user:
passwd root
Default Value
Not applicable.
References
None.
CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control |
|---|---|
| v7 | 5.1 Establish Secure Configurations |
Assessment Status
Automated