The Ubuntu operating system library files must be owned by root.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-238349	UBTU-20-010428	SV-238349r1106138_rule		Medium

Description

If the operating system were to allow any user to make changes to software libraries, then those changes might be implemented without undergoing the appropriate testing and approvals that are part of a robust change management process. This requirement applies to operating systems with software libraries that are accessible and configurable, as in the case of interpreted languages. Software libraries also include privileged programs which execute with escalated privileges. Only qualified and authorized individuals must be allowed to obtain access to information system components for purposes of initiating changes, including upgrades and modifications.

STIG	Date
Canonical Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide	2025-05-16

Details

Check Text (C-41559r1101663_chk)

Verify the systemwide shared library files contained in the directories "/lib", "/lib64", "/usr/lib", and "/usr/lib64" are owned by root with the following command:

$ sudo find /lib /lib64 /usr/lib /usr/lib64 -type f -name '*.so*' ! -user root -exec stat -c "%n %U" {} +

If any output is returned, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-41518r1106137_fix)

Configure the systemwide shared library files contained in the directories "/lib", "/lib64", "/usr/lib", and "/usr/lib64" to be owned by root with the following command:

$ sudo find /lib /lib64 /usr/lib /usr/lib64 -type f -name '*.so*' ! -user root -exec chown root {} +