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TOSS must not allow accounts configured with blank or null passwords.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-252966 TOSS-04-020270 SV-252966r824222_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
Tri-Lab Operating System Stack (TOSS) 4 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2022-08-29

Details

Check Text ( C-56419r824220_chk )
To verify that null passwords cannot be used, run the following command:

$ sudo grep -i permitemptypasswords /etc/ssh/sshd_config

PermitEmptyPasswords no

If "PermitEmptyPasswords" is set to "yes", this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-56369r824221_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