Root passwords must never be passed over a network in clear text form.

From SUSE Linux Enterprise Server v11 for System z Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-000197

SV-44919r1_rule Root passwords must never be passed over a network in clear text form.

Vulnerability discussion

If a user accesses the root account (or any account) using an unencrypted connection, the password is passed over the network in clear text form and is subject to interception and misuse. This is true even if recommended procedures are followed by logging on to a named account and using the su command to access root.

Check content

Determine if root has logged in over an unencrypted network connection. First determine if root has logged in over a network. Procedure: # last | grep "^root " | egrep -v "reboot| |ttyS0" | more If root has logged in over the network, this is a finding.

Fix text

Enable SSH on the system and authenticate with a userid/password that has “su” privileges to attain root access.

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