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Cron must not execute programs in, or subordinate to, world-writable directories.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-977 GEN003020 SV-45580r1_rule Medium
Description
If cron programs are located in or subordinate to world-writable directories, they become vulnerable to removal and replacement by malicious users or system intruders.
STIG Date
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server v11 for System z 2016-12-20

Details

Check Text ( C-42933r1_chk )
List all cronjobs on the system.
Procedure:

# ls /var/spool/cron /var/spool/cron/tabs


# ls /etc/crontab /etc/cron.{d,daily,hourly,monthly,weekly}
or
# ls /etc/cron*|grep -v deny


If cron jobs exist under any of the above directories, use the following command to search for programs executed by at:

# more

Perform a long listing of each directory containing program files found in the cron file to determine if the directory is world-writable.

# ls -ld

If cron executes programs in world-writable directories, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-38977r1_fix)
Remove the world-writable permission from the cron program directories identified.

Procedure:
# chmod o-w