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

RHEL 9 /var/log/messages file must be owned by root.

DISA Rule

SV-257916r1101916_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-257916

Group Title

SRG-OS-000206-GPOS-00084

Rule Version

RHEL-09-232180

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-001314 - Reveal error messages only to organization-defined personnel or roles.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Change the owner of the "/var/log/messages" file to "root" by running the following command:

$ sudo chown root /var/log/messages

Check Contents

Verify the "/var/log/messages" file is owned by root with the following command:

$ stat -c "%U %n" /var/log/messages

root /var/log/messages

If "/var/log/messages" does not have an owner of "root", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-257916

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-09-232180

Severity Override Guidance

Verify the "/var/log/messages" file is owned by root with the following command:

$ stat -c "%U %n" /var/log/messages

root /var/log/messages

If "/var/log/messages" does not have an owner of "root", this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5551