STIGQter STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 9 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

RHEL 9 /etc/shadow file must be owned by root.

DISA Rule

SV-257910r991589_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-257910

Group Title

SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227

Rule Version

RHEL-09-232150

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Change the owner of the file /etc/shadow to root by running the following command:

$ sudo chown root /etc/shadow

Check Contents

Verify the ownership of the "/etc/shadow" file with the following command:

$ sudo stat -c "%U %n" /etc/shadow

root /etc/shadow

If "/etc/shadow" file does not have an owner of "root", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-257910

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-09-232150

Severity Override Guidance

Verify the ownership of the "/etc/shadow" file with the following command:

$ sudo stat -c "%U %n" /etc/shadow

root /etc/shadow

If "/etc/shadow" file does not have an owner of "root", this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5551