Amazon Linux 2023 must generate audit records for all account creations, modifications, disabling, and termination events that affect /etc/shadow.

Severity
Group ID
Group Title
Version
Rule ID
Date
STIG Version
mediumV-274114SRG-OS-000004-GPOS-00004AZLX-23-002255SV-274114r1120330_rule2025-07-151
Description
In addition to auditing new user and group accounts, these watches will alert the system administrator(s) (SAs) to any modifications. Any unexpected users, groups, or modifications should be investigated for legitimacy. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000004-GPOS-00004, SRG-OS-000037-GPOS-00015, SRG-OS-000042-GPOS-00020, SRG-OS-000062-GPOS-00031, SRG-OS-000304-GPOS-00121, SRG-OS-000392-GPOS-00172, SRG-OS-000462-GPOS-00206, SRG-OS-000470-GPOS-00214, SRG-OS-000471-GPOS-00215, SRG-OS-000239-GPOS-00089, SRG-OS-000240-GPOS-00090, SRG-OS-000241-GPOS-00091, SRG-OS-000303-GPOS-00120, SRG-OS-000466-GPOS-00210, SRG-OS-000476-GPOS-00221, SRG-OS-000275-GPOS-00105
ℹ️ Check
Verify Amazon Linux 2023 generates audit records for all account creations, modifications, disabling, and termination events that affect "/etc/shadow with the following command: $ sudo auditctl -l | egrep '(/etc/shadow)' -w /etc/shadow -p wa -k identity If the command does not return a line, or the line is commented out, this is a finding.
✔️ Fix
Configure Amazon Linux 2023 to generate audit records for all account creations, modifications, disabling, and termination events that affect "/etc/shadow". Add or update the following file system rule to "/etc/audit/rules.d/audit.rules": -w /etc/shadow -p wa -k identity To load the rules to the kernel immediately, use the following command: $ sudo augenrules --load