AlmaLinux OS 9 /etc/shadow file must be group-owned by root.
Severity | Group ID | Group Title | Version | Rule ID | Date | STIG Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium | V-269229 | SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227 | ALMA-09-016960 | SV-269229r1050111_rule | 2026-02-27 | 1 |
Description
The "/etc/shadow" file contains the list of local system accounts and stores password hashes. Protection of this file is critical for system security.
Failure to give ownership of this file to root provides the designated owner with access to sensitive information, which could weaken the system security posture.
ℹ️ Check
Verify the 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
Change the group of the file /etc/shadow to root by running the following command:
$ chgrp root /etc/shadow