---
title: Verify /boot/efi/EFI/redhat/user.cfg User Ownership
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > OOTB Rules > Verify /boot/efi/EFI/redhat/user.cfg
  User Ownership
---

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

# Verify /boot/efi/EFI/redhat/user.cfg User Ownership
 
## Description{% #description %}

The file `/boot/efi/EFI/redhat/user.cfg` should be owned by the `root` user to prevent reading or modification of the file. To properly set the owner of `/boot/efi/EFI/redhat/user.cfg`, run the command:

```
$ sudo chown root /boot/efi/EFI/redhat/user.cfg
```

## Rationale{% #rationale %}

Only root should be able to modify important boot parameters. Also, non-root users who read the boot parameters may be able to identify weaknesses in security upon boot and be able to exploit them.

## Remediation{% #remediation %}

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

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

```bash
#!/bin/bash

# Remediation is applicable only in certain platforms
if ( rpm --quiet -q grub2-common && rpm --quiet -q kernel-core ) && [ -d /sys/firmware/efi ]; then

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

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

fi

else
    >&2 echo 'Remediation is not applicable, nothing was done'
fi
```

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

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

```gdscript3
- name: Gather the package facts
  package_facts:
    manager: auto
  tags:
  - CCE-86021-3
  - CJIS-5.5.2.2
  - NIST-800-171-3.4.5
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-7.1
  - configure_strategy
  - file_owner_efi_user_cfg
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Set the file_owner_efi_user_cfg_newown variable if represented by uid
  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
    file_owner_efi_user_cfg_newown: '0'
  when:
  - '"/boot/efi" in ansible_mounts | map(attribute="mount") | list'
  - ( "grub2-common" in ansible_facts.packages and "kernel-core" in ansible_facts.packages
    )
  tags:
  - CCE-86021-3
  - CJIS-5.5.2.2
  - NIST-800-171-3.4.5
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-7.1
  - configure_strategy
  - file_owner_efi_user_cfg
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Test for existence /boot/efi/EFI/redhat/user.cfg
  ansible.builtin.stat:
    path: /boot/efi/EFI/redhat/user.cfg
  register: file_exists
  when:
  - '"/boot/efi" in ansible_mounts | map(attribute="mount") | list'
  - ( "grub2-common" in ansible_facts.packages and "kernel-core" in ansible_facts.packages
    )
  tags:
  - CCE-86021-3
  - CJIS-5.5.2.2
  - NIST-800-171-3.4.5
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-7.1
  - configure_strategy
  - file_owner_efi_user_cfg
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Ensure owner on /boot/efi/EFI/redhat/user.cfg
  ansible.builtin.file:
    path: /boot/efi/EFI/redhat/user.cfg
    follow: false
    owner: '{{ file_owner_efi_user_cfg_newown }}'
  when:
  - '"/boot/efi" in ansible_mounts | map(attribute="mount") | list'
  - ( "grub2-common" in ansible_facts.packages and "kernel-core" in ansible_facts.packages
    )
  - file_exists.stat is defined and file_exists.stat.exists
  tags:
  - CCE-86021-3
  - CJIS-5.5.2.2
  - NIST-800-171-3.4.5
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-7.1
  - configure_strategy
  - file_owner_efi_user_cfg
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
```