The TOSS 5 /etc/passwd file must have mode 0644 or less permissive to prevent unauthorized access.

If the "/etc/passwd" file is writable by a group owner or the world, it increases the risk of compromise. The file contains the list of accounts on the system and associated information, and protection of this file is critical for system security.

Verify the "/etc/passwd" file has mode "0644" or less permissive using the following command:

$ sudo stat -c "%a %n" /etc/passwd

644 /etc/passwd

If a value of "0644" or less permissive is not returned, this is a finding.

Change the mode of the file "/etc/passwd" to "0644" using the following command:

$ sudo chmod 0644 /etc/passwd