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

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-271813	OL09-00-002551	SV-271813r1092151_rule		Medium

Description

The "/etc/shadow-" file is a backup file of "/etc/shadow", and as such, contains the list of local system accounts and password hashes. Protection of this file is critical for system security.

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

Details

Check Text (C-75863r1092149_chk)

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

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

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

Fix Text (F-75770r1092150_fix)

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

$ sudo chgrp root /etc/shadow-