Permissions for /etc/passwd

[Shreeraj Karulkar]

Can some one tell me what are the correct permissions for the /etc/passwd file ?
Also the owner:group
ThanX

[James R. Ferguson]

HI:

The '/etc/passwd' file must be readable by anyone in order to map numeric uid values to names when a user runs 'ls' for example.

The file is normally owned by 'root' and should be writeable only by 'root', although the root user can write to any file regardless of its permissions.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Shreeraj Karulkar]

James
THanX for your response, I do understand the concept. However I am looking for a specific answer. Apparently at my work there seems to be the following permissions

-r--r--r-- 1 root sys 16872 Jan 30 17:24 /etc/passwd


Is this correct.

[Patrick Wallek · Accepted solution]

Yes, -r--r--r-- are the correct permissions for the /etc/passwd file.

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi (again):

Yes, that is perfectly appropriate.

If you wish, compare your ownership and permissions to '/usr/newconfig/etc/passwd' (although its ownership is generally "root:other").

Regards!

...JRF...