The system must not have accounts configured with blank or null passwords.

From Oracle Linux 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Part of GEN000560

Associated with: CCI-000366

SV-63787r1_rule The system must not have accounts configured with blank or null passwords.

Vulnerability discussion

If an account is configured for password authentication but does not have an assigned password, it may be possible to log into the account without authentication. If the root user is configured without a password, the entire system may be compromised. For user accounts not using password authentication, the account must be configured with a password lock value instead of a blank or null value.

Check content

Verify the system will not log in accounts with blank passwords. # grep nullok /etc/pam.d/system-auth /etc/pam.d/system-auth-ac If an entry for nullok is found, this is a finding on Linux.

Fix text

Edit /etc/pam.d/system-auth and remove the "nullok" setting.

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