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V-261391

CAT I (High)

SLEM 5 must employ FIPS 140-2/140-3-approved cryptographic hashing algorithms for system authentication.

Rule ID

SV-261391r996598_rule

STIG

SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro (SLEM) 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V1R4

CCIs

CCI-000196 CCI-000803

Discussion

The system must use a strong hashing algorithm to store the password. The system must use a sufficient number of hashing rounds to ensure the required level of entropy. 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.

Check Content

Verify SLEM 5 shadow password suite is configured to encrypt interactive user passwords using FIPS 140-2/140-3-approved cryptographic hash with the following command:

     > sudo cut -d: -f2 /etc/shadow
     $6$kcOnRq/5$NUEYPuyL.wghQwWssXRcLRFiiru7f5JPV6GaJhNC2aK5F3PZpE/BCCtwrxRc/AInKMNX3CdMw11m9STiql12f/

Password hashes "!" or "*" indicate inactive accounts not available for logon and are not evaluated.

If any interactive user password hash does not begin with "$6", this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure SLEM 5 to encrypt all stored passwords with FIPS 140-2/140-3-approved cryptographic hash.

Add or modify the following line in the "/etc/login.defs" file:

ENCRYPT_METHOD SHA512

Lock all interactive user accounts not using SHA512 hashing until the passwords can be regenerated.