Skip to content

Verify Group Who Owns /etc/cron.allow file

An XCCDF Rule

Description

If /etc/cron.allow exists, it must be group-owned by crontab. To properly set the group owner of /etc/cron.allow, run the command:

$ sudo chgrp crontab /etc/cron.allow

Rationale

If the owner of the cron.allow file is not set to crontab, the possibility exists for an unauthorized user to view or edit sensitive information.

ID
xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_rule_file_groupowner_cron_allow
Severity
Medium
References
Updated



Remediation - Ansible

- name: Gather the package facts
  package_facts:
    manager: auto
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(1)
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)

Remediation - Shell Script

# Remediation is applicable only in certain platforms
if dpkg-query --show --showformat='${db:Status-Status}
' 'kernel' 2>/dev/null | grep -q installed; then

chgrp crontab /etc/cron.allow