1.4.2 Ensure access to bootloader config is configured

Information

The grub configuration file contains information on boot settings and passwords for unlocking boot options.

Setting the permissions to read and write for root only prevents non-root users from seeing the boot parameters or changing them. Non-root users who read the boot parameters may be able to identify weaknesses in security upon boot and be able to exploit them.

Solution

Run the following commands to set permissions on your grub configuration:

# chown root:root /boot/grub/grub.cfg
# chmod u-x,go-rwx /boot/grub/grub.cfg

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/17045

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL, MEDIA PROTECTION

References: 800-53|AC-3, 800-53|AC-5, 800-53|AC-6, 800-53|MP-2, CSCv7|14.6

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 9df3d27473eb5b50a0ca244d408891b6b7aa9eebaefab22dec4c2d77ba139c6c