UCF STIG Viewer Logo
Changes are coming to https://stigviewer.com. Take our survey to help us understand your usage and how we can better serve you in the future.
Take Survey

Local accounts with blank passwords must be restricted to prevent access from the network.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-3344 WN08-SO-000004 SV-48073r1_rule IAIA-1 High
Description
An account without a password can allow unauthorized access to a system as only the username would be required. Password policies should prevent accounts with blank passwords from existing on a system. However, if a local account with a blank password did exist, enabling this setting will prevent network access, limiting the account to local console logon only.
STIG Date
Windows 8 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2014-01-07

Details

Check Text ( C-44812r1_chk )
Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in. (See "Performing Analysis with the Security Configuration and Analysis Snap-in" in the STIG Overview document.)
Expand the Security Configuration and Analysis tree view.
Navigate to Local Policies -> Security Options.

If the value for "Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only" is not set to "Enabled", this is a finding.

The policy referenced configures the following registry value:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa

Value Name: LimitBlankPasswordUse

Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1
Fix Text (F-41211r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> "Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only" to "Enabled".