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The /etc/passwd file must not contain password hashes.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-208808 OL6-00-000031 SV-208808r793593_rule Medium
Description
The hashes for all user account passwords should be stored in the file "/etc/shadow" and never in "/etc/passwd", which is readable by all users.
STIG Date
Oracle Linux 6 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2021-12-03

Details

Check Text ( C-9061r357404_chk )
To check that no password hashes are stored in "/etc/passwd", run the following command:

# awk -F: '($2 != "x") {print}' /etc/passwd

If it produces any output, then a password hash is stored in "/etc/passwd".
If any stored hashes are found in /etc/passwd, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-9061r357405_fix)
If any password hashes are stored in "/etc/passwd" (in the second field, instead of an "x"), the cause of this misconfiguration should be investigated. The account should have its password reset and the hash should be properly stored, or the account should be deleted entirely.