AIX root passwords must never be passed over a network in clear text form.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-215221	AIX7-00-001124	SV-215221r508663_rule		High

Description
Passwords need to be protected at all times, and encryption is the standard method for protecting passwords. If passwords are not encrypted, they can be plainly read (i.e., clear text) and easily compromised.

STIG	Date
IBM AIX 7.x Security Technical Implementation Guide	2020-09-11

Details

Check Text ( C-16419r294114_chk )
Determine if root has logged in over an unencrypted network connection: # last \| grep "root " \| egrep -v "reboot\|console" \| more root pts/1 10.74.17.76 Jul 4 16:44 - 17:39 (00:54) Next, determine if the SSH daemon is running: # ps -ef \|grep sshd root 3670408 6029762 0 Jan 24 - 0:00 /usr/sbin/sshd If root has logged in over the network and SSHD is not running, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-16417r294115_fix)
If OpenSSH server is not installed, install it from the from AIX DVD Volume 1 using the following command (assuming that the DVD device is /dev/cd0): # installp -aXYgd /dev/cd0 -e /tmp/install.log openssh.base.server Start SSH server if it is not started: # startsrc -s sshd Enable SSH on the system and use it for all remote connections used to attain root access. Disable direct root remote login: # chsec -f /etc/security/user -s root -a rlogin=false

Fix Text (F-16417r294115_fix)

If OpenSSH server is not installed, install it from the from AIX DVD Volume 1 using the following command (assuming that the DVD device is /dev/cd0):
# installp -aXYgd /dev/cd0 -e /tmp/install.log openssh.base.server

Start SSH server if it is not started:
# startsrc -s sshd

Enable SSH on the system and use it for all remote connections used to attain root access.

Disable direct root remote login:
# chsec -f /etc/security/user -s root -a rlogin=false