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

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

# The /etc/default/docker file permissions should be set to 644 or stricter
Classification:complianceFramework:cis-dockerControl:3.20 
## Description{% #description %}

The `/etc/default/docker` file should have mode 644 or stricter.

## Rationale{% #rationale %}

On Debian and Ubuntu, `/etc/default/docker` can set options of the Docker daemon. Mode 644 or stricter leaves only root able to write it.

## Audit{% #audit %}

Show the mode of `/etc/default/docker`:

```bash
stat -c '%a' /etc/default/docker
```

Datadog passes the rule when `/etc/default/docker` has mode 644 or stricter, fails it when the mode is less strict, and reports it not applicable when the path is absent.

## Remediation{% #remediation %}

Set the mode:

```bash
chmod 644 /etc/default/docker
```

## Impact{% #impact %}

None.

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

The Docker CE packages for Debian and Ubuntu install the file with owner root:root and mode 644.

## References{% #references %}

1. [https://docs.docker.com/engine/daemon/](https://docs.docker.com/engine/daemon/)