Ensure access to /etc/gshadow is configured

MediumLevel 1Automatedlinux

Description

The /etc/gshadow file is used to store the information about groups that is critical to the security of those accounts, such as the hashed password and other security information.

How it is checked

Audit method: Shell command

shell

alt0() { command -v stat >/dev/null 2>&1 || { echo "step1: stat not installed"; return 1; }; o=$(bash -c 'stat -Lc '"'"'Access: (%#a/%A)  Uid: ( %u/ %U) Gid: ( %g/ %G)'"'"'  /etc/gshadow' 2>&1); printf '%s\n' "$o" | tr -s ' \t' '  ' | sed 's/^ //;s/ $//' | grep -Fxq -- 'Access: (0/----------) Uid: ( 0/ root) Gid: ( 0/ root)' || { echo step1: missing 'Access: (0/----------) Uid: ( 0/ root) Gid: ( 0/ root)'; return 1; }; }; if alt0; then echo compliant; fi

Expected output: compliant

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

Run the following commands to set mode, owner, and group on /etc/gshadow: # chown root:root /etc/gshadow # chmod 0000 /etc/gshadow

Properties

Operating systems: almalinux-8
Tags: cis-convertedlinux
Reference: CIS AlmaLinux OS 8 Benchmark v4.0.0 - 7.1.7

Check this host

Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.

shell

tmaegis scan --target linux