User and group account administration utilities must be configured to store only encrypted representations of passwords.

From Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-000196

SV-86547r2_rule User and group account administration utilities must be configured to store only encrypted representations of passwords.

Vulnerability discussion

Passwords need to be protected at all times, and encryption is the standard method for protecting passwords. If passwords are not encrypted, they can be plainly read (i.e., clear text) and easily compromised. Passwords encrypted with a weak algorithm are no more protected than if they are kept in plain text.

Check content

Verify the user and group account administration utilities are configured to store only encrypted representations of passwords. The strength of encryption that must be used to hash passwords for all accounts is "SHA512". Check that the system is configured to create "SHA512" hashed passwords with the following command: # cat /etc/libuser.conf | grep -i sha512 crypt_style = sha512 If the "crypt_style" variable is not set to "sha512", is not in the defaults section, or does not exist, this is a finding.

Fix text

Configure the operating system to store only SHA512 encrypted representations of passwords. Add or update the following line in "/etc/libuser.conf" in the [defaults] section: crypt_style = sha512

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