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

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

DISA Rule

SV-258120r991589_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258120

Group Title

SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227

Rule Version

RHEL-09-611155

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

CCI-000366 - Implement the security configuration settings.

Weight

Fix Recommendation

Configure all accounts on RHEL 9 to have a password or lock the account with the following commands:

Perform a password reset:

$ sudo passwd [username]

To lock an account:

$ sudo passwd -l [username]

Check Contents

Verify that null or blank passwords cannot be used with the following command:

$ sudo awk -F: '!$2 {print $1}' /etc/shadow

If the command returns any results, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-258120

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-09-611155

Severity Override Guidance

Verify that null or blank passwords cannot be used with the following command:

$ sudo awk -F: '!$2 {print $1}' /etc/shadow

If the command returns any results, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

Target Key

5551