Ubuntu 22.04 LTS must not allow accounts configured with blank or null passwords.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-260570	UBTU-22-611060	SV-260570r1082233_rule		High

Description

If an account has an empty password, anyone could log on and run commands with the privileges of that account. Accounts with empty passwords must never be used in operational environments.

STIG	Date
Canonical Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide	2025-05-16

Details

Check Text (C-64299r1082231_chk)

Verify that null passwords cannot be used. Run the following command:

$ grep nullok /etc/pam.d/common-auth /etc/pam.d/common-password

If this produces any output, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-64207r1082232_fix)

Remove any instances of the "nullok" option in "/etc/pam.d/common-password" to prevent logons with empty passwords.

Remove any instances of the "nullok" option in "/etc/pam.d/common-auth" and "/etc/pam.d/common-password".