The sixth element is the user to run the command. The /etc/crontab file can run the command as any user. Same goes for files placed in /etc/cron.d folder IIRC.
On my RHEL 6.4 server there is a pretty obvious comment explaining the fields at the top of /etc/crontab unless I'm mistaken. Do you have a comment block on your servers in that file? In any case all they're doing is giving one example that works. They say at the bottom there are other means (root's own crontab, another user via sudo, etc.) Bryan On Aug 9, 2013, at 12:52 PM, Paul Whitney <[email protected]> wrote: > Pretty sure you are correct. This is an entry that should be in root's > crontab, without the word "root". > Paul M. Whitney > RHCSA, VCP > > Chesapeake IT Consulting, Inc. > 2680 Tobacco Rd > Chesapeake Beach, MD > 20732 > > > Work: 301.543.3716 > Cell: 410.493.9448 > [email protected] > > > > On Aug 09, 2013, at 12:38 PM, "Hayden,Robert" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I was reviewing the Rule: aide_periodic_cron_checking and noticed the >> following recommended fix: >> ----start quote---- >> To implement a daily execution of AIDE at 4:05am using cron, add the >> following line to /etc/crontab: >> 05 4 * * * root /usr/sbin/aide --check >> >> AIDE can be executed periodically through other means; this is merely one >> example. >> >> ---- end quote------ >> >> This fix is also documented in the RHEL STIG version 1 release 2. >> >> I believe that is an incorrect line for crontab as the 6th element is to be >> the executed command. On my RHEL 6.4 machine, "root" is not a valid command >> and I receive the following in local mail box >> >> # mail >> Heirloom Mail version 12.4 7/29/08. Type ? for help. >> "/var/spool/mail/root": 1 message 1 new >> >N 1 Cron Daemon Fri Aug 9 04:05 23/1036 "Cron >> ><root@techval15> root /usr/sbin/aide --check" >> & 1 >> Message 1: >> From [email protected] Fri Aug 9 04:05:01 2013 >> Return-Path: <[email protected]> >> Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2013 04:05:01 -0500 >> From: [email protected] (Cron Daemon) >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Cron <root@techval15> root /usr/sbin/aide --check >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 >> Auto-Submitted: auto-generated >> X-Cron-Env: <SHELL=/bin/sh> >> X-Cron-Env: <HOME=/root> >> X-Cron-Env: <PATH=/usr/bin:/bin> >> X-Cron-Env: <LOGNAME=root> >> X-Cron-Env: <USER=root> >> Status: R >> >> /bin/sh: root: command not found >> >> >> Am I missing something? >> >> Thanks >> Robert >> >> >> Robert Hayden | Sr. Technology Architect | Cerner Corporation | 816.201.4068 >> | [email protected] | www.cerner.com >> >> >> >> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This message and any included attachments are from >> Cerner Corporation and are intended only for the addressee. The information >> contained in this message is confidential and may constitute inside or >> non-public information under international, federal, or state securities >> laws. Unauthorized forwarding, printing, copying, distribution, or use of >> such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not >> the addressee, please promptly delete this message and notify the sender of >> the delivery error by e-mail or you may call Cerner's corporate offices in >> Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A at (+1) (816)221-1024. >> _______________________________________________ >> scap-security-guide mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://lists.fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/scap-security-guide > _______________________________________________ > scap-security-guide mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.fedorahosted.org/mailman/listinfo/scap-security-guide
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