Details

The ‘/etc/shadow’ file contains the list of local system accounts and stores password hashes. Protection of this file is critical for system security. Failure to give ownership of this file to root provides the designated owner with access to sensitive information which could weaken the system security posture.

Solution

To properly set the owner of ‘/etc/shadow’, run the command:

# chown root /etc/shadow

Supportive Information

The following resource is also helpful.

• https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_Oracle_Linux_6_V1R18_STIG.zip

This security hardening control applies to the following category of controls within NIST 800-53: Configuration Management.This control applies to the following type of system Unix.

References

• 800-53|CM-6b.
• CAT|II
• CCI|CCI-000366
• CSCv6|3.1
• Group-ID|V-50753
• Rule-ID|SV-208810r603263_rule
• STIG-ID|OL6-00-000033
• STIG-Legacy|SV-64959
• STIG-Legacy|V-50753
• Vuln-ID|V-208810

Source

• Tenable.com/audits