OL 9 /etc/group- file must be group-owned by root.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-271795	OL09-00-002533	SV-271795r1092097_rule		Medium

Description

The "/etc/group-" file is a backup file of "/etc/group", and as such, contains information regarding groups that are configured on the system. Protection of this file is important for system security.

STIG	Date
Oracle Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2025-05-08

Details

Check Text (C-75845r1092095_chk)

Verify that OL 9 configures group ownership of the "/etc/group-" file with the following command:

$ stat -c "%G %n" /etc/group-
root /etc/group-

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

Fix Text (F-75752r1092096_fix)

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

$ sudo chgrp root /etc/group-