Verify User Who Owns passwd File

Classification:

compliance

Framework:

Control:

Description

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

$ sudo chown 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.

chown 0 /etc/passwd

Ansible playbook

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

- 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-DSSv4-7.2.6
 - configure\_strategy
 - file\_owner\_etc\_passwd
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed

- name: Ensure owner 0 on /etc/passwd
 file:
 path: /etc/passwd
 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\_passwd
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed