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The system must not have accounts configured with blank or null passwords.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-208807 OL6-00-000030 SV-208807r603263_rule High
Description
If an account has an empty password, anyone could log in and run commands with the privileges of that account. Accounts with empty passwords should never be used in operational environments.
STIG Date
Oracle Linux 6 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2021-06-14

Details

Check Text ( C-9060r357401_chk )
To verify that null passwords cannot be used, run the following command:

# grep nullok /etc/pam.d/system-auth /etc/pam.d/password-auth

If this produces any output, it may be possible to log on to accounts with empty passwords.

If null passwords can be used, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-9060r357402_fix)
If an account is configured for password authentication but does not have an assigned password, it may be possible to log on to the account without authentication.

Remove any instances of the "nullok" option in "/etc/pam.d/system-auth" and "/etc/pam.d/password-auth" to prevent logons with empty passwords.