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The AIX /etc/hosts file must be group-owned by root.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-245558 AIX7-00-002141 SV-245558r755115_rule Medium
Description
Unauthorized group ownership of the /etc/hosts file can lead to the ability for a malicious actor to redirect traffic to servers of their choice. It is also possible to use the /etc/hosts file to block detection by security software by blocking the traffic to all the download or update servers of well-known security vendors.
STIG Date
IBM AIX 7.x Security Technical Implementation Guide 2021-06-16

Details

Check Text ( C-48837r755113_chk )
Check the group ownership of /etc/hosts using command:
# ls -al /etc/hosts

The above command should yield the following output:
-rw-r----- 1 root root 993 Mar 11 07:04 /etc/hosts

If the file is not group-owned by root, this is a finding
Fix Text (F-48792r755114_fix)
Change the ownership of the file to root using command:
# chgrp root /etc/hosts