Verify User Who Owns group File

Classification:

compliance

Framework:

Control:

Description

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

$ sudo chown root /etc/group

Rationale

The /etc/group file contains information regarding groups that are configured on the system. Protection of this file is important for system security.

Remediation

Shell script

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

chown 0 /etc/group

Ansible playbook

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

- name: Test for existence /etc/group
 stat:
 path: /etc/group
 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\_owner\_etc\_group
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed

- name: Ensure owner 0 on /etc/group
 file:
 path: /etc/group
 owner: '0'
 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\_owner\_etc\_group
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed