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

All shells referenced in /etc/passwd must be listed in the /etc/shells file, except any shells specified for the purpose of preventing logins.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-917 GEN002140 SV-45171r1_rule Medium
Description
The shells file lists approved default shells. It helps provide layered defense to the security approach by ensuring users cannot change their default shell to an unauthorized unsecure shell.
STIG Date
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server v11 for System z 2016-12-20

Details

Check Text ( C-42516r1_chk )
Confirm the login shells referenced in the /etc/passwd file are listed in the /etc/shells file.

Procedure:
# for USHELL in `cut -d: -f7 /etc/passwd`; do if [ $(grep -c "${USHELL}" /etc/shells) == 0 ]; then echo "${USHELL} not in /etc/shells"; fi; done

The /usr/bin/false, /bin/false, /dev/null, /sbin/nologin, /bin/sync, /sbin/halt, /sbin/shutdown, (and equivalents), and sdshell will be considered valid shells for use in the /etc/passwd file, but will not be listed in the /etc/shells file.

If a shell referenced in /etc/passwd is not listed in the shells file, excluding the above mentioned shells, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-38569r2_fix)
Use the YaST > Security and Users > User and Group Management module to change the default shell of any account in error to an acceptable shell.
OR
Use the "chsh" utility or edit the /etc/passwd file and correct the error by changing the default shell of the account in error to an acceptable shell name contained in the /etc/shells file.