All interactive user home directories defined in the /etc/passwd file must exist.

From AIX 6.1 SECURITY TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

Associated with IA controls: ECSC-1

Associated with: CCI-000225

SV-27194r1_rule All interactive user home directories defined in the /etc/passwd file must exist.

Vulnerability discussion

If a user has a home directory defined that does not exist, the user may be given the / directory, by default, as the current working directory upon logon. This could create a Denial of Service because the user would not be able to perform useful tasks in this location.

Check content

Use pwck to check that assigned home directories exist. Procedure: # usrck -n ALL If any user's assigned home directory does not exist, this is a finding.

Fix text

If a user has no home directory, determine why. If possible, delete accounts with no home directory. If the account is valid, then create the home directory using the appropriate system administration utility or manually create, i.e., mkdir ; copy the skeleton files into the directory; chown for the new directory and the skeleton files. Document all changes.

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