Title

The /etc/shadow (or equivalent) file must be owned by root. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

The /etc/shadow file contains the list of local system accounts. It is vital to system security and must be protected from unauthorized modification. Failure to give ownership of sensitive files or utilities to root or bin provides the designated owner and unauthorized users with the potential to access sensitive information or change the system configuration which could weaken the system's security posture.

Check Content

For Trusted Mode: Check the ownership of the /etc/shadow file. # ls -lL /etc/shadow If the /etc/shadow file exists and is not owned by root, this is a finding. NOTE: /etc/shadow should not exist if the system is in Trusted Mode. Check the ownership of the TCB auth files and directories. # ls -lLd /tcb /tcb/files /tcb/files/auth # ls -lL /tcb/files/auth/[a-z,A-Z]/* If the owner of any of the /tcb files and directories is not root, this is a finding. For SMSE: Check the /etc/shadow file. # ls -lL /etc/shadow If the /etc/shadow file exists and is not owned by root, this is a finding.

Fix Text

For Trusted Mode: # chown root /tcb # chown root /tcb/files /tcb/files/auth # chown root /tcb/files/auth/[a-z]/* For SMSE: # chown root /etc/shadow

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-38468r2_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-797

Group Title: GEN001400

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

Controls tied to check. These are derived from the CCIs shown above.