If the system is using LDAP for authentication or account information, the /etc/ldap.conf file (or equivalent) must not contain passwords.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-24384	GEN008050	SV-37643r3_rule	IAIA-1 IAIA-2	Medium

Description
The authentication of automated LDAP connections between systems must not use passwords since more secure methods are available, such as PKI and Kerberos. Additionally, the storage of unencrypted passwords on the system is not permitted.

STIG	Date
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2015-06-12

Details

Check Text ( C-36837r4_chk )
Verify LDAP is running on the system. To check to see if the system is an LDAP server, run: # ps -ef \| grep ldap Find out which LDAP is used (if not determined via the command above). # rpm -qa \| grep ldap If using nssldap: # grep base /etc/ldap.conf Check to see if the base is set to something besides the default of "dc=example,dc=com". If using openldap: # grep suffix /etc/openldap/slapd.conf Check whether the system is an LDAP client: # grep server /etc/ldap.conf # grep server /etc/openldap/ldap.conf Check whether the server option has an address other than the loopback, then check the nsswitch.conf file: # grep ldap /etc/nsswitch.conf Look for the following three lines: passwd: files ldap shadow: files ldap group: files ldap If all three files are not configured to look for an LDAP source, then the system is not using LDAP for authentication. If the system is not using LDAP for authentication, this is not applicable. Check for the "bindpw" option being used in the "/etc/ldap.conf" file. # grep bindpw /etc/ldap.conf If an uncommented "bindpw" option is returned, then a cleartext password is in the file, and this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-36837r4_chk )

Verify LDAP is running on the system. To check to see if the system is an LDAP server, run:
# ps -ef | grep ldap

Find out which LDAP is used (if not determined via the command above).
# rpm -qa | grep ldap

If using nssldap:
# grep base /etc/ldap.conf

Check to see if the base is set to something besides the default of "dc=example,dc=com".

If using openldap:
# grep suffix /etc/openldap/slapd.conf

Check whether the system is an LDAP client:
# grep server /etc/ldap.conf
# grep server /etc/openldap/ldap.conf

Check whether the server option has an address other than the loopback, then check the nsswitch.conf file:
# grep ldap /etc/nsswitch.conf

Look for the following three lines:
passwd: files ldap
shadow: files ldap
group: files ldap

If all three files are not configured to look for an LDAP source, then the system is not using LDAP for authentication.

If the system is not using LDAP for authentication, this is not applicable.

Check for the "bindpw" option being used in the "/etc/ldap.conf" file.
# grep bindpw /etc/ldap.conf

If an uncommented "bindpw" option is returned, then a cleartext password is in the file, and this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-31678r1_fix)
Edit the "/etc/ldap.conf" file to use anonymous binding by removing the "bindpw" option.