The use of local accounts with blank passwords is not restricted to console logons only.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-3344	4.036	SV-3344r1_rule	IAIA-1	High

Description
This is a Category 1 finding because no accounts with blank passwords should exist on a system. The password policy should prevent this from occurring. However, if a local account with a blank password does exist, enabling this setting will limit the account to local console logon only.

STIG	Date
Windows XP Security Technical Implementation Guide	2013-07-03

Details

Check Text ( C-475r1_chk )
Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in. 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”, then 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

Check Text ( C-475r1_chk )

Analyze the system using the Security Configuration and Analysis snap-in. 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”, then 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-5788r1_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”.