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The /etc/hosts file must be group-owned by root, bin, sys, or system.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
GEN001367-ESXI5-PNF GEN001367-ESXI5-PNF GEN001367-ESXI5-PNF_rule Medium
Description
The /etc/hosts file (or equivalent) configures local host name to IP address mappings that typically take precedence over DNS resolution. If this file is maliciously modified, it could cause the failure or compromise of security functions requiring name resolution, which may include time synchronization, centralized authentication, and remote system logging. Applicable, but permanent not-a-finding - Not a General Purpose (GP) OS. VMware's ESXi-v5 is a multi-user kernel where all users are "administrator" with either: Administrator with Full and partial (configurable) privileges, Read-only, or No Access. In this case, the file owner, group-owner and mode(s) have no meaning.
STIG Date
VMware ESXi v5 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2013-01-15

Details

Check Text ( C-GEN001367-ESXI5-PNF_chk )
ESXi supports this requirement and cannot be configured to be out of compliance. This is a permanent not a finding.
Fix Text (F-GEN001367-ESXI5-PNF_fix)
This requirement is permanent not a finding. No fix is required.