Local accounts with blank passwords must be restricted to prevent access from the network.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
WN12-SO-000004	WN12-SO-000004	WN12-SO-000004_rule		High

Description
An account without a password can allow unauthorized access to a system as only the username would be required. Password policies should prevent accounts with blank passwords from existing on a system. However, if a local account with a blank password did exist, enabling this setting will prevent network access, limiting the account to local console logon only.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Member Server Security Technical Implementation Guide	2013-07-25

Details

Check Text ( C-WN12-SO-000004_chk )
If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa Value Name: LimitBlankPasswordUse Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1

Fix Text (F-WN12-SO-000004_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> "Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only" to "Enabled".