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← Back to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server v11 for System z Security Technical Implementation Guide

V-4428

CAT II (Medium)

All .rhosts, .shosts, .netrc, or hosts.equiv files must be accessible by only root or the owner.

Rule ID

SV-45168r1_rule

STIG

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server v11 for System z Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V1R12

CCIs

CCI-000225

Discussion

If these files are accessible by users other than root or the owner, they could be used by a malicious user to set up a system compromise.

Check Content

Procedure:
# ls -l /etc/hosts.equiv

# ls -l /etc/ssh/shosts.equiv

# find / -name .rhosts
# ls -al <home directory>/.rhosts

# find / -name .shosts
# ls -al <home directory>/.shosts

# find / -name .netrc
# ls -al <home directory>/.netrc

If the .rhosts, .shosts, hosts.equiv, or shosts.equiv files have permissions greater than 600, then this is a finding.
If the /etc/hosts.equiv, or /etc/ssh/shosts.equiv files are not owned by root, this is a finding.

Any .rhosts, .shosts and .netrc files outside of home directories have no meaning and are not subject to this rule
If the ~/.rhosts or ~/.shosts are not owned by the owner of the home directory where they are immediately located or by root, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Ensure the permission for these files is set to 600 or more restrictive and their owner is root or the same as the owner of the home directory in which they reside.

Procedure:
# chmod 600 /etc/hosts.equiv
# chmod 600 /etc/ssh/shosts.equiv
# chown root /etc/hosts.equiv
# chown root /etc/ssh/shosts.equiv

# find / -name .rhosts
# chmod 600 /<home directory>/.rhosts
# chown <home directory owner> <home directory>/.rhosts

# find / -name .shosts
# chmod 600 <directory location>/.shosts
# chown <home directory owner> <home directory>/.shosts

# find / -name .netrc
# chmod 600 <directory location>/.netrc
# chown <home directory owner> <home directory>/.netrc