RHEL 8 must not allow blank or null passwords in the system-auth file.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-268322 | RHEL-08-020331 | SV-268322r1017568_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 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-03-26 |
Details
| Check Text (C-72343r1017566_chk) |
| To verify that null passwords cannot be used, run the following command: $ sudo grep -i nullok /etc/pam.d/system-auth If output is produced, this is a finding. |
| Fix Text (F-72246r1017567_fix) |
| Remove any instances of the "nullok" option in the "/etc/pam.d/system-auth" file to prevent logons with empty passwords. Note: Manual changes to the listed file may be overwritten by the "authselect" program. |