---
title: The docker.service file permissions should be set to 644
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > OOTB Rules > The docker.service file permissions
  should be set to 644
---

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.datadoghq.com/llms.txt).

# The docker.service file permissions should be set to 644
Classification:complianceFramework:cis-dockerControl:3.2 
## Description{% #description %}

The `docker.service` unit file should have mode 644 or stricter.

## Rationale{% #rationale %}

The `docker.service` unit sets the command line and the environment of the Docker daemon. Mode 644 or stricter leaves only root able to write it.

## Audit{% #audit %}

Find the unit file that systemd uses, then show its mode:

```bash
systemctl show -p FragmentPath docker.service
stat -c '%a' /usr/lib/systemd/system/docker.service
```

Datadog checks `docker.service` in `/etc/systemd/system`, `/run/systemd/system`, `/usr/local/lib/systemd/system`, `/usr/lib/systemd/system`, or `/lib/systemd/system`. It passes the rule when every copy found has mode 644 or stricter, fails it when one has a less strict mode, and reports it not applicable when there is none.

## Remediation{% #remediation %}

Set the mode of the unit file that systemd uses:

```bash
chmod 644 /usr/lib/systemd/system/docker.service
```

## Impact{% #impact %}

None.

## Default value{% #default-value %}

The Docker packages install the unit files in `/usr/lib/systemd/system` with owner root:root and mode 644.