AlmaLinux OS 9 must not have accounts configured with blank or null passwords.

Severity
Group ID
Group Title
Version
Rule ID
Date
STIG Version
mediumV-269219SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227ALMA-09-015860SV-269219r1050101_rule2025-02-201
Description
If an account has an empty password, anyone could log in and run commands with the privileges of that account. Accounts with empty passwords should never be used in operational environments.
ℹ️ Check
Verify that null or blank passwords cannot be used with the following command: $ awk -F: '!$2 {print $1}' /etc/shadow If the command returns any results, this is a finding.
✔️ Fix
Configure all accounts on AlmaLinux OS 9 to have a password or lock the account with the following commands: Perform a password reset: $ passwd [username] To lock an account: $ passwd -l [username]