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RHEL 8 must not allow accounts configured with blank or null passwords.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-230380 RHEL-08-020330 SV-230380r858715_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 8 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2023-12-01

Details

Check Text ( C-33049r858714_chk )
To verify that null passwords cannot be used, run the following command:

$ sudo grep -ir permitemptypasswords /etc/ssh/sshd_config*

PermitEmptyPasswords no

If "PermitEmptyPasswords" is set to "yes", this is a finding.
If conflicting results are returned, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-33024r743992_fix)
Edit the following line in "etc/ssh/sshd_config" to prevent logons with empty passwords.

PermitEmptyPasswords no

The SSH daemon must be restarted for the changes to take effect. To restart the SSH daemon, run the following command:

$ sudo systemctl restart sshd.service