Verify Group Who Owns shadow File

Classification:

compliance

Framework:

Control:

Description

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

$ sudo chgrp shadow /etc/shadow

Rationale

The /etc/shadow file stores password hashes. 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.

chgrp 42 /etc/shadow

Ansible playbook

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

- name: Test for existence /etc/shadow
 stat:
 path: /etc/shadow
 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-DSSv4-7.2.6
 - configure\_strategy
 - file\_groupowner\_etc\_shadow
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed

- name: Ensure group owner 42 on /etc/shadow
 file:
 path: /etc/shadow
 group: '42'
 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-DSSv4-7.2.6
 - configure\_strategy
 - file\_groupowner\_etc\_shadow
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed