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	WN12-SO-000004	SV-52886r1_rule		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 Server 2012 / 2012 R2 Domain Controller Security Technical Implementation Guide	2016-12-19

Details

Check Text ( C-47203r3_chk )
If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\ Value Name: LimitBlankPasswordUse Value Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1

Fix Text (F-45812r1_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".