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Record Events that Modify User/Group Information via open_by_handle_at syscall - /etc/passwd

An XCCDF Rule

Description

The audit system should collect write events to /etc/passwd file for all users and root. If the auditd daemon is configured to use the augenrules program to read audit rules during daemon startup (the default), add the following lines to a file with suffix .rules in the directory /etc/audit/rules.d: 

-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S open_by_handle_at -F a2&03 -F path=/etc/passwd -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=unset -F key=modify
If the auditd daemon is configured to use the auditctl utility to read audit rules during daemon startup, add the following lines to /etc/audit/audit.rules file: 
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S open_by_handle_at -F a2&03 -F path=/etc/passwd -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=unset -F key=modify
If the system is 64 bit then also add the following line: 
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S open_by_handle_at -F a2&03 -F path=/etc/passwd -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=unset -F key=modify

warning alert: Warning

Note that these rules can be configured in a number of ways while still achieving the desired effect. Here the system calls have been placed independent of other system calls. Grouping system calls related to the same event is more efficient. See the following example: 
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S openat,open_by_handle_at -F a2&03 -F path=/etc/passwd -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=unset -F key=modify

Rationale

Creation of users through direct edition of /etc/passwd could be an indicator of malicious activity on a system. Auditing these events could serve as evidence of potential system compromise.

ID
xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_rule_audit_rules_etc_passwd_open_by_handle_at
Severity
Medium
References
Updated



Remediation - Kubernetes Patch


apiVersion: machineconfiguration.openshift.io/v1
kind: MachineConfig
spec:
  config:
    ignition: