RHEL-10-400055 RHEL 10 must be configured so that the "/etc/passwd-" file is group-owned by "root".
DISA STIG library V1R3
All changes in this version
All changes in this version
Maps to AC-3 via CCI-000213
Title
RHEL 10 must be configured so that the "/etc/passwd-" file is group-owned by "root".
Control
Verify RHEL 10 is configured so that the "/etc/passwd-" file is group-owned by "root" with the following command: $ sudo stat -c "%G %n" /etc/passwd- root /etc/passwd- If the "/etc/passwd-" file does not have a group owner of "root", this is a finding.
Discussion
The "/etc/passwd-" file is a backup file of "/etc/passwd", and as such contains information about the users that are configured on the system. Protection of this file is critical for system security.
Related controls
CCI-000213
Fix
Configure RHEL 10 so that the group of the "/etc/passwd-" file is set to "root" by running the following command: $ sudo chgrp root /etc/passwd-