Verify User Who Owns Backup gshadow File

Classification:

compliance

Framework:

Control:

Description

To properly set the owner of /etc/gshadow-, run the command:

$ sudo chown root /etc/gshadow-

Rationale

The /etc/gshadow- file is a backup of /etc/gshadow, and as such, it contains group 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.

chown 0 /etc/gshadow-

Ansible playbook

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

- name: Test for existence /etc/gshadow-
 stat:
 path: /etc/gshadow-
 register: file\_exists
 tags:
 - NIST-800-53-AC-6 (1)
 - PCI-DSS-Req-8.7
 - PCI-DSSv4-7.2.6
 - configure\_strategy
 - file\_owner\_backup\_etc\_gshadow
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed

- name: Ensure owner 0 on /etc/gshadow-
 file:
 path: /etc/gshadow-
 owner: '0'
 when: file\_exists.stat is defined and file\_exists.stat.exists
 tags:
 - NIST-800-53-AC-6 (1)
 - PCI-DSS-Req-8.7
 - PCI-DSSv4-7.2.6
 - configure\_strategy
 - file\_owner\_backup\_etc\_gshadow
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed