4.1.1.3 Ensure permissions on /etc/cron.hourly are configured

Information

This directory contains system cron jobs that need to run on an hourly basis. The files in this directory cannot be manipulated by the crontab command, but are instead edited by system administrators using a text editor. The commands below restrict read/write and search access to user and group root, preventing regular users from accessing this directory.

Granting write access to this directory for non-privileged users could provide them the means for gaining unauthorized elevated privileges. Granting read access to this directory could give an unprivileged user insight in how to gain elevated privileges or circumvent auditing controls.

Solution

Run the following commands to set ownership and permissions on the /etc/cron.hourly directory:

# chown root:root /etc/cron.hourly/
# chmod og-rwx /etc/cron.hourly/

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/15964