The alias file must be owned by root.

From Oracle Linux 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-000225

SV-63607r1_rule The alias file must be owned by root.

Vulnerability discussion

If the alias file is not owned by root, an unauthorized user may modify the file adding aliases to run malicious code or redirect e-mail.

Check content

If the "sendmail" and "postfix" packages are not installed, this is not applicable. Check the ownership of the alias files. Procedure: for sendmail: # ls -lL /etc/aliases # ls -lL /etc/aliases.db If all the files are not owned by root, this is a finding. for postfix: Verify the location of the alias file. # postconf alias maps This will return the location of the "aliases" file, by default "/etc/postfix/aliases" # ls -lL # ls -lL If all the files are not owned by root, this is a finding.

Fix text

Change the owner of the /etc/aliases file to root. Procedure: for sendmail: # chown root /etc/aliases # chown root /etc/aliases.db for postfix # chown root /etc/postfix/aliases # chown root /etc/postfix/aliases.db

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