All AlmaLinux OS 9 local initialization files must have mode 0740 or less permissive.

Local initialization files are used to configure the user's shell environment upon logon. Malicious modification of these files could compromise accounts upon logon.

World-readable "dot files" such as .bash_history or .netrc can reveal plaintext credentials, such files should be further protected (e.g., 0600).

Verify that all local initialization files have a mode of "0740" or less permissive with the following command:

Note: The example will be for the "testuser" account, who has a home directory of "/home/testuser".

$ find /home/testuser/.[^.]* -maxdepth 0 -perm -740 -exec stat -c "%a %n" {} \; | more

755 /home/testuser/.cache 755 /home/testuser/.mozilla

If any local initialization files have a mode more permissive than "0740", this is a finding.

Set the mode of the local initialization files to "0740" with the following command:

Note: The example will be for the "testuser" account, who has a home directory of "/home/testuser".

$ chmod 0740 /home/testuser/.<INIT_FILE>