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

From Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with IA controls: IAIA-2, IAIA-1

Associated with: CCI-000366

SV-37259r1_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

Fix text

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

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