V-244532

Discussion

If a local interactive user's files are group-owned by a group of which the user is not a member, unintended users may be able to access them.

Check Content

Verify all files and directories in a local interactive user home directory are group-owned by a group that the user is a member.

Check the group owner of all files and directories in a local interactive user's home directory with the following command:

Note: The example will be for the user "smithj", who has a home directory of "/home/smithj".

$ sudo ls -lLR /<home directory>/<users home directory>/
-rw-r--r-- 1 smithj smithj  18 Mar  5 17:06 file1
-rw-r--r-- 1 smithj smithj 193 Mar  5 17:06 file2
-rw-r--r-- 1 smithj sa        231 Mar  5 17:06 file3

If any files are found with a group owner different from the home directory user private group, check to see if the user is a member of that group with the following command:

$ sudo grep smithj /etc/group
sa:x:100:juan,shelley,bob,smithj 
smithj:x:521:smithj

If any files or directories are group owned by a group that the directory owner is not a member of verify that it is documented with the information system security officer (ISSO). If it is not, this is a finding.