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

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-269221	ALMA-09-016080	SV-269221r1050103_rule		Medium

Description

The "/etc/passwd-" file is a backup file of "/etc/passwd", and as such, contains information about the users that are configured on the system. 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-73252r1048039_chk)

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

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

root /etc/passwd-

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

Fix Text (F-73153r1048040_fix)

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

$ chown root /etc/passwd-