STIGhubSTIGhub
STIGsRMF ControlsCompare

STIGhub

A free tool to search and browse the entire DISA STIG library. Saves up to 75% in security compliance research time.

Navigation

  • Browse STIGs
  • Search
  • RMF Controls
  • Compare Versions

Resources

  • About
  • Release Notes
  • VPAT
  • DISA STIG Library
STIGs updated 3 hours ago
Powered by Pylon
© 2026 Beacon Cloud Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
← Back to Canonical Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide

V-260631

CAT II (Medium)

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS must generate audit records for all account creations, modifications, disabling, and termination events that affect /etc/passwd.

Rule ID

SV-260631r958368_rule

STIG

Canonical Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V2R8

CCIs

CCI-000018CCI-000172CCI-001403CCI-001404CCI-001405CCI-002130

Discussion

Once an attacker establishes access to a system, the attacker often attempts to create a persistent method of reestablishing access. One way to accomplish this is for the attacker to create an account. Auditing account creation actions provides logging that can be used for forensic purposes. To address access requirements, many operating systems may be integrated with enterprise level authentication/access/auditing mechanisms that meet or exceed access control policy requirements. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000004-GPOS-00004, SRG-OS-000239-GPOS-00089, SRG-OS-000240-GPOS-00090, SRG-OS-000241-GPOS-00091, SRG-OS-000303-GPOS-00120, SRG-OS-000458-GPOS-00203, SRG-OS-000463-GPOS-00207, SRG-OS-000476-GPOS-00221

Check Content

Verify Ubuntu 22.04 LTS generates audit records for all account creations, modifications, disabling, and termination events that affect "/etc/passwd" by using the following command: 
 
     $ sudo auditctl -l | grep passwd 
     -w /etc/passwd -p wa -k usergroup_modification 
 
If the command does not return a line that matches the example or the line is commented out, this is a finding. 
 
Note: The "-k" value is arbitrary and can be different from the example output above.

Fix Text

Configure Ubuntu 22.04 LTS to generate audit records for all account creations, modifications, disabling, and termination events that affect "/etc/passwd". 
 
Add or modify the following line to "/etc/audit/rules.d/stig.rules": 
 
-w /etc/passwd -p wa -k usergroup_modification 
 
To reload the rules file, issue the following command: 
 
     $ sudo augenrules --load 
 
Note: The "-k <keyname>" at the end of the line gives the rule a unique meaning to help during an audit investigation. The <keyname> does not need to match the example above.