AlmaLinux OS 9 /etc/shadow- file must have mode 0000 or less permissive to prevent unauthorized access.

Severity
Group ID
Group Title
Version
Rule ID
Date
STIG Version
mediumV-269228SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227ALMA-09-016850SV-269228r1050110_rule2025-02-201
Description
The "/etc/shadow-" file is a backup file of "/etc/shadow", and as such, contains the list of local system accounts and password hashes. Protection of this file is critical for system security.
ℹ️ Check
Verify that the "/etc/shadow-" file has mode "0000" with the following command: $ stat -c "%a %n" /etc/shadow- 0 /etc/shadow- If a value of "0" is not returned, this is a finding.
✔️ Fix
Change the mode of the file "/etc/shadow-" to "0000" by running the following command: $ chmod 0000 /etc/shadow-