The /etc/passwd file must not contain password hashes.

From Oracle Linux 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-000201

SV-64581r1_rule The /etc/passwd file must not contain password hashes.

Vulnerability discussion

If password hashes are readable by non-administrators, the passwords are subject to attack through lookup tables or cryptographic weaknesses in the hashes.

Check content

Verify no password hashes are present in /etc/passwd. # cut -d : -f 2 /etc/passwd | egrep -v '^(x|\*)$' If any password hashes are returned, this is a finding.

Fix text

Migrate /etc/passwd password hashes to /etc/shadow. # pwconv

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