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The root account must not have world-writable directories in its executable search path.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-777 GEN000960 SV-777r2_rule ECCD-1 ECCD-2 Medium
Description
If the root search path contains a world-writable directory, malicious software could be placed in the path by intruders and/or malicious users and inadvertently run by root with all of root's privileges.
STIG Date
UNIX SRG 2013-03-26

Details

Check Text ( C-28064r1_chk )
Check for world-writable permissions on all directories in the root user's executable search path.

Procedure:
# ls -ld `echo $PATH | sed "s/:/ /g"`

If any of the directories in the PATH variable are world-writable, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-24415r1_fix)
For each world-writable path in root's executable search path, perform one of the following.

1. Remove the world-writable permission on the directory.
Procedure:
# chmod o-w

2. Remove the world-writable directory from the executable search path.

Procedure:
Identify and edit the initialization file referencing the world-writable directory and remove it from the PATH variable.