STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 8 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

The RHEL 8 shadow password suite must be configured to use a sufficient number of hashing rounds.

DISA Rule

SV-230233r1044790_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-230233

Group Title

SRG-OS-000073-GPOS-00041

Rule Version

RHEL-08-010130

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-004062 - For password-based authentication, store passwords using an approved salted key derivation function, preferably using a keyed hash.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure RHEL 8 to encrypt all stored passwords with a strong cryptographic hash.

Edit/modify the following line in the "/etc/login.defs" file and set "SHA_CRYPT_MIN_ROUNDS" to a value no lower than "100000":

SHA_CRYPT_MIN_ROUNDS 100000

Check Contents

Check that a minimum number of hash rounds is configured by running the following command:

$ sudo grep -E "^SHA_CRYPT_" /etc/login.defs

If only one of "SHA_CRYPT_MIN_ROUNDS" or "SHA_CRYPT_MAX_ROUNDS" is set, and this value is below "100000", this is a finding.

If both "SHA_CRYPT_MIN_ROUNDS" and "SHA_CRYPT_MAX_ROUNDS" are set, and the highest value for either is below "100000", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-230233

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-08-010130

Severity Override Guidance

Check that a minimum number of hash rounds is configured by running the following command:

$ sudo grep -E "^SHA_CRYPT_" /etc/login.defs

If only one of "SHA_CRYPT_MIN_ROUNDS" or "SHA_CRYPT_MAX_ROUNDS" is set, and this value is below "100000", this is a finding.

If both "SHA_CRYPT_MIN_ROUNDS" and "SHA_CRYPT_MAX_ROUNDS" are set, and the highest value for either is below "100000", this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

2921