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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-71937 RHEL-07-010290 SV-86561r2_rule High
Description
If an account has an empty password, anyone could log on and run commands with the privileges of that account. Accounts with empty passwords should never be used in operational environments.
STIG Date
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2017-12-14

Details

Check Text ( C-72169r1_chk )
To verify that null passwords cannot be used, run the following command:

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

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

If null passwords can be used, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-78289r2_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 authenticating.

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

Note: Any updates made to "/etc/pam.d/system-auth-ac" may be overwritten by the "authconfig" program. The "authconfig" program should not be used.