---
title: Verify Who Owns /etc/shells File
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: Docs > Datadog Security > OOTB Rules > Verify Who Owns /etc/shells File
---

# Verify Who Owns /etc/shells File
 
## Description{% #description %}

To properly set the owner of `/etc/shells`, run the command:

```
$ sudo chown root /etc/shells 
```

## Rationale{% #rationale %}

The `/etc/shells` file contains the list of full pathnames to shells on the system. Since this file is used by many system programs this file should be protected.

## Remediation{% #remediation %}

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

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

```bash
#!/bin/bash

newown=""
if id "0" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
  newown="0"
fi

if [[ -z "$newown" ]]; then
  >&2 echo "0 is not a defined user on the system"
else
if ! stat -c "%u %U" "/etc/shells" | grep -E -w -q "0"; then
    chown --no-dereference "$newown" /etc/shells
fi

fi
```

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

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

```gdscript3
- name: Set the file_owner_etc_shells_newown variable if represented by uid
  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
    file_owner_etc_shells_newown: '0'
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AC-3
  - NIST-800-53-MP-2
  - configure_strategy
  - file_owner_etc_shells
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Test for existence /etc/shells
  ansible.builtin.stat:
    path: /etc/shells
  register: file_exists
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AC-3
  - NIST-800-53-MP-2
  - configure_strategy
  - file_owner_etc_shells
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Ensure owner on /etc/shells
  ansible.builtin.file:
    path: /etc/shells
    follow: false
    owner: '{{ file_owner_etc_shells_newown }}'
  when: file_exists.stat is defined and file_exists.stat.exists
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AC-3
  - NIST-800-53-MP-2
  - configure_strategy
  - file_owner_etc_shells
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
```