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RHEL 9 must not have accounts configured with blank or null passwords.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-258120 RHEL-09-611155 SV-258120r991589_rule Medium
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-61861r926345_chk )
Verify that null or blank passwords cannot be used with the following command:

$ sudo awk -F: '!$2 {print $1}' /etc/shadow

If the command returns any results, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-61785r926346_fix)
Configure all accounts on RHEL 9 to have a password or lock the account with the following commands:

Perform a password reset:

$ sudo passwd [username]

To lock an account:

$ sudo passwd -l [username]