======6.1.2 Ensure permissions on /etc/passwd are configured (Scored)======
=====Profile Applicability=====
Level 1 - Server
Level 1 - Workstation
=====Description=====
The ''/etc/passwd'' file contains user account information that is used by many system utilities and therefore must be readable for these utilities to operate.
=====Rationale=====
It is critical to ensure that the ''/etc/passwd'' file is protected from unauthorized write access. Although it is protected by default, the file permissions could be changed either inadvertently or through malicious actions.
=====Audit=====
Run the following command and verify ''Uid'' and ''Gid'' are both ''0/root'' and ''Access'' is ''644'':
# stat /etc/passwd
Access: (0644/-rw-r--r--) Uid: ( 0/ root) Gid: ( 0/ root)
=====Remediation=====
Run the following command to set permissions on ''/etc/passwd'':
# chown root:root /etc/passwd
# chmod 644 /etc/passwd