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RHEL 8 must not allow blank or null passwords in the password-auth file.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-244541 RHEL-08-020332 SV-244541r743872_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 2021-06-14

Details

Check Text ( C-47816r743870_chk )
To verify that null passwords cannot be used, run the following command:

$ sudo grep -i nullok /etc/pam.d/password-auth

If output is produced, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-47773r743871_fix)
Remove any instances of the "nullok" option in the "/etc/pam.d/password-auth" file to prevent logons with empty passwords.

Note: Manual changes to the listed file may be overwritten by the "authselect" program.