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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-770 GEN000560 SV-37259r1_rule IAIA-1 IAIA-2 High
Description
If an account is configured for password authentication but does not have an assigned password, it may be possible to log into the account without authentication. If the root user is configured without a password, the entire system may be compromised. For user accounts not using password authentication, the account must be configured with a password lock value instead of a blank or null value.
STIG Date
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2017-03-01

Details

Check Text ( C-35949r1_chk )
Verify the system will not log in accounts with blank passwords.
# grep nullok /etc/pam.d/system-auth /etc/pam.d/system-auth-ac
If an entry for nullok is found, this is a finding on Linux.
Fix Text (F-31205r1_fix)
Edit /etc/pam.d/system-auth and remove the "nullok" setting.