AlmaLinux OS 9 /etc/shadow- file must be owned by root.
Severity | Group ID | Group Title | Version | Rule ID | Date | STIG Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium | V-269227 | SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227 | ALMA-09-016740 | SV-269227r1050109_rule | 2026-02-27 | 1 |
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.
ℹ️ Check
Verify the ownership of the "/etc/shadow-" file with the following command:
$ stat -c "%U %n" /etc/shadow-
root /etc/shadow-
If "/etc/shadow-" file does not have an owner of "root", this is a finding.
✔️ Fix
Change the owner of the file /etc/shadow- to root by running the following command:
$ chown root /etc/shadow-