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RHEL 9 must not allow blank or null passwords.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-258094 RHEL-09-611025 SV-258094r991589_rule High
Description
If an account has an empty password, anyone could log in 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 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2024-06-04

Details

Check Text ( C-61835r926267_chk )
Verify that null passwords cannot be used with the following command:

$ sudo grep -i nullok /etc/pam.d/system-auth /etc/pam.d/password-auth

If output is produced, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-61759r926268_fix)
Remove any instances of the "nullok" option in the "/etc/pam.d/password-auth" and "/etc/pam.d/system-auth" files to prevent logons with empty passwords.

Note: Manual changes to the listed file may be overwritten by the "authselect" program.