STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 9 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

RHEL 9 must be configured to use the shadow file to store only encrypted representations of passwords.

DISA Rule

SV-258117r1015116_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258117

Group Title

SRG-OS-000073-GPOS-00041

Rule Version

RHEL-09-611140

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 9 to store only SHA512 encrypted representations of passwords.

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

ENCRYPT_METHOD SHA512

Check Contents

Verify the system's shadow file is configured to store only encrypted representations of passwords with a hash value of SHA512 with the following command:

# grep -i encrypt_method /etc/login.defs

ENCRYPT_METHOD SHA512

If "ENCRYPT_METHOD" does not have a value of "SHA512", or the line is commented out, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-258117

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-09-611140

Severity Override Guidance

Verify the system's shadow file is configured to store only encrypted representations of passwords with a hash value of SHA512 with the following command:

# grep -i encrypt_method /etc/login.defs

ENCRYPT_METHOD SHA512

If "ENCRYPT_METHOD" does not have a value of "SHA512", or the line is commented out, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5551