---
title: Ensure that System Accounts Do Not Run a Shell Upon Login
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > OOTB Rules > Ensure that System Accounts Do Not Run
  a Shell Upon Login
---

# Ensure that System Accounts Do Not Run a Shell Upon Login
 
## Description{% #description %}

Some accounts are not associated with a human user of the system, and exist to perform some administrative functions. Should an attacker be able to log into these accounts, they should not be granted access to a shell.

The login shell for each local account is stored in the last field of each line in `/etc/passwd`. System accounts are those user accounts with a user ID less than `1000`. The user ID is stored in the third field. If any system account other than `root` has a login shell, disable it with the command:

```
$ sudo usermod -s /sbin/nologin account
         
```

## Rationale{% #rationale %}

Ensuring shells are not given to system accounts upon login makes it more difficult for attackers to make use of system accounts.

## Remediation{% #remediation %}

### Shell script{% #shell-script %}

The following script can be run on the host to remediate the issue.

```bash
#!/bin/bash

readarray -t systemaccounts < <(awk -F: '($3 < 1000 && $3 != root \
  && $7 != "\/sbin\/shutdown" && $7 != "\/sbin\/halt" && $7 != "\/bin\/sync") \
  { print $1 }' /etc/passwd)

for systemaccount in "${systemaccounts[@]}"; do
    usermod -s /sbin/nologin "$systemaccount"
done
```

### Ansible playbook{% #ansible-playbook %}

The following playbook can be run with Ansible to remediate the issue.

```
- name: Ensure that System Accounts Do Not Run a Shell Upon Login - Get All Local
    Users From /etc/passwd
  ansible.builtin.getent:
    database: passwd
    split: ':'
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(b)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6.1(iv)
  - PCI-DSSv4-8.2
  - PCI-DSSv4-8.2.2
  - low_complexity
  - medium_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - no_shelllogin_for_systemaccounts
  - restrict_strategy

- name: Ensure that System Accounts Do Not Run a Shell Upon Login - Create local_users
    Variable From getent_passwd Facts
  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
    local_users: '{{ ansible_facts.getent_passwd | dict2items }}'
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(b)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6.1(iv)
  - PCI-DSSv4-8.2
  - PCI-DSSv4-8.2.2
  - low_complexity
  - medium_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - no_shelllogin_for_systemaccounts
  - restrict_strategy

- name: Ensure that System Accounts Do Not Run a Shell Upon Login -  Disable Login
    Shell for System Accounts
  ansible.builtin.user:
    name: '{{ item.key }}'
    shell: /sbin/nologin
  loop: '{{ local_users }}'
  when:
  - item.key not in ['root']
  - item.value[1]|int < 1000
  - item.value[5] not in ['/sbin/shutdown', '/sbin/halt', '/bin/sync']
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(b)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6.1(iv)
  - PCI-DSSv4-8.2
  - PCI-DSSv4-8.2.2
  - low_complexity
  - medium_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - no_shelllogin_for_systemaccounts
  - restrict_strategy
```

## Warning{% #warning %}

Do not perform the steps in this section on the root account. Doing so might cause the system to become inaccessible.