Verify User Who Owns 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 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)
 - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
 - configure\_strategy
 - file\_owner\_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)
 - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
 - configure\_strategy
 - file\_owner\_etc\_gshadow
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed