UCF STIG Viewer Logo
Changes are coming to https://stigviewer.com. Take our survey to help us understand your usage and how we can better serve you in the future.
Take Survey

Files executed through a mail aliases file must be owned by root and must reside within a directory owned and writable only by root.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-833 GEN004400 SV-45851r1_rule High
Description
If a file executed through a mail aliases file is not owned and writable only by root, it may be subject to unauthorized modification. Unauthorized modification of files executed through aliases may allow unauthorized users to attain root privileges.
STIG Date
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server v11 for System z 2016-12-20

Details

Check Text ( C-43149r1_chk )
Verify the ownership of files referenced within the sendmail aliases file.

Procedure:
# more /etc/aliases
Examine the aliases file for any utilized directories or paths.

# ls -lL
Check the owner for any paths referenced.
Check if the file or parent directory is owned by root. If not, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-39235r1_fix)
Edit the /etc/aliases file (alternatively, /usr/lib/sendmail.cf). Locate the entries executing a program. They will appear similar to the following line:

Aliasname: : /usr/local/bin/ls (or some other program name)

Ensure root owns the programs and the directory(ies) they reside in by using the chown command to change owner to root.
Procedure:
# chown root