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 | CCI-000366 | 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 | 2025-05-14 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-268322r1017568_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.