Verify Group Who Owns passwd File

Description

To properly set the group owner of /etc/passwd, run the command:

$ sudo chgrp root /etc/passwd

Rationale

The /etc/passwd file contains information about the users that are configured on the system. Protection of this file is critical for system security.

Remediation

Shell script

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

#!/bin/bash

if getent group "0" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
  newgroup="0"
fi
if [[ -z ${newgroup} ]]; then
  echo "0 is not a defined group on the system"
  exit 1
fi
chgrp $newgroup /etc/passwd

Ansible playbook

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

- name: Set the file_groupowner_etc_passwd_newgroup variable if represented by gid
  set_fact:
    file_groupowner_etc_passwd_newgroup: '0'
  tags:
  - CJIS-5.5.2.2
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-8.7.c
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
  - configure_strategy
  - file_groupowner_etc_passwd
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Test for existence /etc/passwd
  stat:
    path: /etc/passwd
  register: file_exists
  tags:
  - CJIS-5.5.2.2
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-8.7.c
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
  - configure_strategy
  - file_groupowner_etc_passwd
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed

- name: Ensure group owner on /etc/passwd
  file:
    path: /etc/passwd
    group: '{{ file_groupowner_etc_passwd_newgroup }}'
  when: file_exists.stat is defined and file_exists.stat.exists
  tags:
  - CJIS-5.5.2.2
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-8.7.c
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2
  - PCI-DSSv4-2.2.6
  - configure_strategy
  - file_groupowner_etc_passwd
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed