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The root account must not be used for direct logins.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V-11979 | GEN001020 | SV-12480r2_rule | ECPA-1 | Medium |
| Description |
|---|
| Direct login with the root account prevents individual user accountability. Acceptable non-routine uses of the root account for direct login are limited to emergency maintenance, the use of single-user mode for maintenance, and situations where individual administrator accounts are not available. |
| STIG | Date |
|---|---|
| VMware ESX 3 Server | 2016-05-13 |
Details
| Check Text ( C-7944r3_chk ) |
|---|
| Check if the root is used for direct logins. Procedure: # last root | grep -v reboot If the last command is not available, consult vendor documentation to determine an appropriate method for obtaining a list of root account logins. If any direct login records for root are listed, this is a finding. |
| Fix Text (F-11240r3_fix) |
|---|
| Enforce policy requiring all root account access is attained by first logging into a user account and then becoming root (using su, for example). |