AlmaLinux OS 9 /etc/gshadow file must be owned by root.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-269204	ALMA-09-014100	SV-269204r1050086_rule		Medium

Description

The "/etc/gshadow" file contains group password hashes. Protection of this file is critical for system security.

STIG	Date
CloudLinux AlmaLinux OS 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2025-05-22

Details

Check Text (C-73235r1047988_chk)

Verify the ownership of the "/etc/gshadow" file with the following command:

$ stat -c "%U %n" /etc/gshadow

root /etc/gshadow

If "/etc/gshadow" file does not have an owner of "root", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-73136r1047989_fix)

Change the owner of the file /etc/gshadow to root by running the following command:

$ chown root /etc/gshadow