The system boot loader must require authentication.

From Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide

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

Associated with: CCI-000213

SV-37933r1_rule The system boot loader must require authentication.

Vulnerability discussion

If the system's boot loader does not require authentication, users with console access to the system may be able to alter the system boot configuration or boot the system into single user or maintenance mode, which could result in Denial of Service or unauthorized privileged access to the system.

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Fix text

The GRUB console boot loader can be configured to use an MD5 encrypted password by adding password --md5 password-hash to the "/boot/grub/grub.conf" file. Use "/sbin/grub-md5-crypt" to generate MD5 passwords from the command line.

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