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V-221687

CAT I (High)

The Oracle Linux operating system must not allow accounts configured with blank or null passwords.

Rule ID

SV-221687r991589_rule

STIG

Oracle Linux 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V3R5

CCIs

CCI-000366

Discussion

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.

Check Content

To verify that null passwords cannot be used, run the following command: 

     # grep nullok /etc/pam.d/system-auth /etc/pam.d/password-auth

If this produces any output, it may be possible to log on with accounts with empty passwords.

If null passwords can be used, this is a finding.

Fix Text

If an account is configured for password authentication but does not have an assigned password, it may be possible to log on to the account without authenticating.

Remove any instances of the "nullok" option in "/etc/pam.d/system-auth" and "/etc/pam.d/password-auth" to prevent logons with empty passwords.

Note: Per requirement OL07-00-010199, Oracle Linux 7 must be configured to not overwrite custom authentication configuration settings while using the authconfig utility, otherwise manual changes to the listed files will be overwritten whenever the authconfig utility is used.