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The /etc/passwd file must have mode 0644 or less permissive.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-208818 OL6-00-000041 SV-208818r505921_rule Medium
Description
If the "/etc/passwd" file is writable by a group-owner or the world the risk of its compromise is increased. The file contains the list of accounts on the system and associated information, and protection of this file is critical for system security.
STIG Date
Oracle Linux 6 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2020-09-10

Details

Check Text ( C-9071r357434_chk )
To check the permissions of "/etc/passwd", run the command:

$ ls -l /etc/passwd

If properly configured, the output should indicate the following permissions: "-rw-r--r--"
If it does not, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-9071r357435_fix)
To properly set the permissions of "/etc/passwd", run the command:

# chmod 0644 /etc/passwd