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User Initialization Files Must Be Owned By the Primary User

An XCCDF Rule

Description

Set the owner of the user initialization files for interactive users to the primary owner with the following command: 

$ sudo chown USER /home/USER/.*
This rule ensures every initialization file related to an interactive user is owned by an interactive user.

warning alert: Warning

Due to OVAL limitation, this rule can report a false negative in a specific situation where two interactive users swap the ownership of their respective initialization files.

Rationale

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

ID
xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_rule_accounts_user_dot_user_ownership
Severity
Medium
References
Updated



Remediation - Ansible

- name: Ensure interactive local users are the owners of their respective initialization
    files
  ansible.builtin.command:
    cmd: awk -F':' '{ if ($3 >= 1000 && $3 != 65534) system("chown -f " $3" "$6"/.[^\.]?*")
      }' /etc/passwd
  tags:

Remediation - Shell Script


awk -F':' '{ if ($3 >= 1000 && $3 != 65534) system("chown -f " $3" "$6"/.[^\.]?*") }' /etc/passwd