Verify permissions on System Login Banner

Description

To properly set the permissions of /etc/issue, run the command:

$ sudo chmod 0644 /etc/issue

Rationale

Display of a standardized and approved use notification before granting access to the operating system ensures privacy and security notification verbiage used is consistent with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, and guidance.

Proper permissions will ensure that only root user can modify the banner.

Remediation

Shell script

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

chmod u-xs,g-xws,o-xwt /etc/issue

Ansible playbook

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

- name: Test for existence /etc/issue
 stat:
 path: /etc/issue
 register: file\_exists
 tags:
 - configure\_strategy
 - file\_permissions\_etc\_issue
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed

- name: Ensure permission u-xs,g-xws,o-xwt on /etc/issue
 file:
 path: /etc/issue
 mode: u-xs,g-xws,o-xwt
 when: file\_exists.stat is defined and file\_exists.stat.exists
 tags:
 - configure\_strategy
 - file\_permissions\_etc\_issue
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed