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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
first version loaded CAT II

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-