Vulnerability Discussion

Setting the most restrictive default permissions ensures newly created accounts do not have unnecessary access.

Check

Verify Ubuntu 22.04 LTS defines default permissions for all authenticated users in such a way that the user can read and modify only their own files by using the following command:

$ grep -i '^\s*umask' /etc/login.defs
UMASK 077

If the "UMASK" variable is set to "000", this is a finding with the severity raised to a CAT I.

If "UMASK" is not set to "077", is commented out, or is missing, this is a finding.

Fix

Configure Ubuntu 22.04 LTS to define the default permissions for all authenticated users in such a way that the user can read and modify only their own files.

Add or modify the following line in the "/etc/login.defs" file:

UMASK 077