The Ubuntu operating system library files must be group-owned by root or a system account.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-238351	UBTU-20-010430	SV-238351r832962_rule		Medium

Description
If the operating system were to allow any user to make changes to software libraries, then those changes might be implemented without undergoing the appropriate testing and approvals that are part of a robust change management process. This requirement applies to operating systems with software libraries that are accessible and configurable, as in the case of interpreted languages. Software libraries also include privileged programs which execute with escalated privileges. Only qualified and authorized individuals must be allowed to obtain access to information system components for purposes of initiating changes, including upgrades and modifications.

Description

If the operating system were to allow any user to make changes to software libraries, then those changes might be implemented without undergoing the appropriate testing and approvals that are part of a robust change management process. This requirement applies to operating systems with software libraries that are accessible and configurable, as in the case of interpreted languages. Software libraries also include privileged programs which execute with escalated privileges. Only qualified and authorized individuals must be allowed to obtain access to information system components for purposes of initiating changes, including upgrades and modifications.

STIG	Date
Canonical Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide	2022-12-06

Details

Check Text ( C-41561r832960_chk )
Verify the system-wide library files contained in the directories "/lib", "/lib64", and "/usr/lib" are group-owned by root, or a required system account, with the following command: $ sudo find /lib /usr/lib /lib64 ! -group root -type f -exec stat -c "%n %G" '{}' \; If any system-wide shared library file is returned and is not group-owned by a required system account, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-41520r832961_fix)
Configure the system library files to be protected from unauthorized access. Run the following command, replacing "[FILE]" with any system command file not group-owned by "root" or a required system account: $ sudo chgrp root [FILE]