RHEL 8 library directories must be owned by root.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-251708	RHEL-08-010341	SV-251708r810012_rule		Medium

Description
If RHEL 8 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 RHEL 8 with software libraries that are accessible and configurable, as in the case of interpreted languages. Software libraries also include privileged programs that execute with escalated privileges. Only qualified and authorized individuals will be allowed to obtain access to information system components for purposes of initiating changes, including upgrades and modifications.

Description

If RHEL 8 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 RHEL 8 with software libraries that are accessible and configurable, as in the case of interpreted languages. Software libraries also include privileged programs that execute with escalated privileges. Only qualified and authorized individuals will be allowed to obtain access to information system components for purposes of initiating changes, including upgrades and modifications.

STIG	Date
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-09-11

Details

Check Text ( C-55145r810011_chk )
Verify the system-wide shared library directories are owned by "root" with the following command: $ sudo find /lib /lib64 /usr/lib /usr/lib64 ! -user root -type d -exec stat -c "%n %U" '{}' \; If any system-wide shared library directory is returned, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-55099r809347_fix)
Configure the system-wide shared library directories within (/lib, /lib64, /usr/lib and /usr/lib64) to be protected from unauthorized access. Run the following command, replacing "[DIRECTORY]" with any library directory not owned by "root". $ sudo chown root [DIRECTORY]