Ensure that the /etc/default/docker file ownership is set to root:root
Scanned 9/3/2026
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---
name: cis-docker-3.19
description: "Ensure that the /etc/default/docker file ownership is set to root:root"
category: cis-docker
version: "1.8.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, docker, linux, containers, daemon-files, file-permissions, ownership]
cis_id: "3.19"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Docker Benchmark v1.8.0"
tech_stack: [linux, docker]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---
# Ensure that the /etc/default/docker file ownership is set to root:root (Manual)
## Profile Applicability
- Level 2 - Docker - Linux
## Description
You should verify that the `/etc/default/docker` file ownership and group-ownership is correctly set to `root`.
## Rationale
The `/etc/default/docker` file contains sensitive parameters that may alter the behavior of the Docker daemon. It should therefore be individually owned and group owned by `root` to ensure that it cannot be modified by less privileged users.
## Impact
None.
## Audit Procedure
You should execute the command below to verify that the file is individually owned and group owned by `root`:
```bash
stat -c %U:%G /etc/default/docker | grep -v root:root
```
The command above should return no results.
## Remediation
You should execute the following command
```bash
chown root:root /etc/default/docker
```
This sets the ownership and group ownership of the file to `root`.
## Default Value
This file may not be present on the system, and in this case, this recommendation is not applicable.
## References
1. https://docs.docker.com/engine/admin/configuring/
## CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8 | 5.4 Restrict Administrator Privileges to Dedicated Administrator Accounts - Restrict administrator privileges to dedicated administrator accounts on enterprise assets. Conduct general computing activities, such as internet browsing, email, and productivity suite use, from the user's primary, non-privileged account. | ● | ● | ● |
| v7 | 4 Controlled Use of Administrative Privileges - Controlled Use of Administrative Privileges | | | |
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