cyberstrikeus CIS Ubuntu Linux 16.04 LTS Benchmark v2.0.0 - 1.7.4
Profile Applicability
- Level 1 - Server
- Level 1 - Workstation
Description
The contents of the /etc/motd file are displayed to users after login and function as a message of the day for authenticated users.
Rationale
If the /etc/motd file does not have the correct ownership it could be modified by unauthorized users with incorrect or misleading information.
Audit Procedure
Command Line
Run the following command and verify Uid and Gid are both 0/root and Access is 644, or the file doesn't exist:
stat /etc/motd
Expected output:
Access: (0644/-rw-r--r--) Uid: ( 0/ root) Gid: ( 0/ root)
OR
stat: cannot stat '/etc/motd': No such file or directory
Expected Result
/etc/motd should be owned by root:root with permissions 644, or the file should not exist.
Remediation
Command Line
Run the following commands to set permissions on /etc/motd:
chown root:root /etc/motd
chmod u-x,go-wx /etc/motd
OR run the following command to remove the /etc/motd file:
rm /etc/motd
Additional Information
If Message of the day is not needing, this file can be removed.
Default Value
File doesn't exist.
References
None.
CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control |
|---|---|
| v7 | 5.1 Establish Secure Configurations |
Assessment Status
Automated