RHEL-08-010110 - RHEL 8 must encrypt all stored passwords with a FIPS 140-2 approved cryptographic hashing algorithm.

Information

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.

Unapproved mechanisms that are used for authentication to the cryptographic module are not verified and therefore cannot be relied upon to provide confidentiality or integrity, and DoD data may be compromised.

FIPS 140-2 is the current standard for validating that mechanisms used to access cryptographic modules utilize authentication that meets DoD requirements.

Solution

Configure RHEL 8 to encrypt all stored passwords.

Edit/Modify the following line in the '/etc/login.defs' file and set '[ENCRYPT_METHOD]' to SHA512.

ENCRYPT_METHOD SHA512

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_RHEL_8_V2R1_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION

References: 800-53|IA-5(1)(c), CAT|II, CCI|CCI-000196, CCI|CCI-004062, Rule-ID|SV-230231r1017050_rule, STIG-ID|RHEL-08-010110, Vuln-ID|V-230231

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 21bd869018e50e8c8baa21e594a95974f8f5707e613dc691781d02030379c14b