All interactive users must be assigned a home directory in the /etc/passwd file.

From HP-UX 11.31 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Part of GEN001440

Associated with IA controls: ECSC-1

Associated with: CCI-000225

SV-38488r2_rule All interactive users must be assigned a home directory in the /etc/passwd file.

Vulnerability discussion

If users do not have a valid home directory, there is no place for the storage and control of files they own.

Check content

Verify the consistency of the assigned home directories in the authentication database. For Trusted Mode: # authck -av If any user is not assigned a home directory, this is a finding. For SMSE: # pwck If any user is not assigned a home directory, this is a finding.

Fix text

For Trusted Mode: Determine why the user is not assigned a home directory. Possible actions include: account deletion or disablement. If the account is determined to be valid, manually create the home directory if required (mkdir directoryname, copy the skeleton files into the directory, chown account name for the new directory and the skeleton files) and assign to the user in the /etc/passwd file or take corrective action via the HP SMH/SAM utility. For SMSE: Note: There may be additional package/bundle updates that must be installed to support attributes in the /etc/default/security file. Determine why the user is not assigned a home directory. Possible actions include: account deletion or disablement. If the account is determined to be valid, manually create the home directory if required (mkdir directoryname, copy the skeleton files into the directory, chown account name for the new directory and the skeleton files) and assign to the user in the /etc/passwd file or take corrective action via the HP SMH/SAM utility. Additionally, use the SAM/SMH interface (/etc/default/security file) and/or the userdbset command (/var/adm/userdb/* files) to update the ABORT_LOGIN_ON_MISSING_HOMEDIR attribute. See the below example: ABORT_LOGIN_ON_MISSING_HOMEDIR=1 Note: Never use a text editor to modify any /var/adm/userdb database file. The database contains checksums and other binary data, and editors (vi included) do not follow the file locking conventions that are used to control access to the database. If manually editing the /etc/default/security file, save any change(s) before exiting the editor.

Pro Tips

Lavender hyperlinks in small type off to the right (of CSS class id, if you view the page source) point to globally unique URIs for each document and item. Copy the link location and paste anywhere you need to talk unambiguously about these things.

You can obtain data about documents and items in other formats. Simply provide an HTTP header Accept: text/turtle or Accept: application/rdf+xml.

Powered by sagemincer