NixOS must store only encrypted representations of passwords.
Severity | Group ID | Group Title | Version | Rule ID | Date | STIG Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| high | V-268130 | SRG-OS-000073-GPOS-00041 | ANIX-00-000770 | SV-268130r1131065_rule | 2025-08-19 | 1 |
Description
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.
ℹ️ Check
Verify NixOS stores only encrypted representations of passwords with the following command:
$ grep ENCRYPT_METHOD /etc/login.defs
ENCRYPT_METHOD SHA512
If "ENCRYPT_METHOD" does not equal SHA512 or greater, is commented out, or is missing, this is a finding.
✔️ Fix
Configure NixOS to store only encrypted representations of passwords.
Add the following Nix code to the NixOS Configuration, usually located in /etc/nixos/configuration.nix or /etc/nixos/flake.nix:
security.loginDefs.settings.ENCRYPT_METHOD = "SHA512";
Rebuild and switch to the new NixOS configuration:
$ sudo nixos-rebuild switch