RHEL 9 must not have accounts configured with blank or null passwords.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-258120 | RHEL-09-611155 | SV-258120r991589_rule | Medium |
| Description |
| If an account has an empty password, anyone could log in 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 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2024-12-04 |
Details
| Check Text (C-61861r926345_chk) |
| Verify that null or blank passwords cannot be used with the following command: $ sudo awk -F: '!$2 {print $1}' /etc/shadow If the command returns any results, this is a finding. |
| Fix Text (F-61785r926346_fix) |
| Configure all accounts on RHEL 9 to have a password or lock the account with the following commands: Perform a password reset: $ sudo passwd [username] To lock an account: $ sudo passwd -l [username] |