Title

The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system must be configured so that all Group Identifiers (GIDs) referenced in the /etc/passwd file are defined in the /etc/group file. (Cat III impact)

Discussion

If a user is assigned the GID of a group not existing on the system, and a group with the GID is subsequently created, the user may have unintended rights to any files associated with the group.

Check Content

Verify all GIDs referenced in the "/etc/passwd" file are defined in the "/etc/group" file. Check that all referenced GIDs exist with the following command: # pwck -r If GIDs referenced in "/etc/passwd" file are returned as not defined in "/etc/group" file, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the system to define all GIDs found in the "/etc/passwd" file by modifying the "/etc/group" file to add any non-existent group referenced in the "/etc/passwd" file, or change the GIDs referenced in the "/etc/passwd" file to a group that exists in "/etc/group".

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-204461r603261_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-204461

Group Title: SRG-OS-000104-GPOS-00051

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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