SLEM 5 must generate audit records for all account creations, modifications, disabling, and termination events that affect /etc/shadow.

Once an attacker establishes initial access to a system, the attacker often attempts to create a persistent method of reestablishing access. One way to accomplish this is for the attacker to simply create a new account. Auditing account creation mitigates this risk.

To address access requirements, SLEM 5 may be integrated with enterprise-level authentication/access/auditing mechanisms that meet or exceed access control policy requirements.

Verify SLEM 5 generates an audit record when modifications occur to the "/etc/shadow" file with the following command:

     > sudo auditctl -l | grep -w '/etc/shadow'
     -w /etc/shadow -p wa -k account_mod

If the command does not return a line that matches the example or the line is commented out, this is a finding.

Notes: The "-k" allows for specifying an arbitrary identifier. The string following "-k" does not need to match the example output above.

Configure SLEM 5 to generate an audit record when all modifications to the "/etc/shadow" file occur.

Add or modify the following line in the "/etc/audit/rules.d/audit.rules" file:

-w /etc/shadow -p wa -k account_mod

To reload the rules file, restart the audit daemon:

     > sudo systemctl restart auditd.service

or issue the following command:

     > sudo augenrules --load