STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 2 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

RHEL 10 must be configured so that SSHD does not allow blank passwords.

DISA Rule

SV-281264r1184764_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-281264

Group Title

SRG-OS-000106-GPOS-00053

Rule Version

RHEL-10-700610

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

CCI-000766 - Implement multifactor authentication for network access to non-privileged accounts.

Weight

Fix Recommendation

Configure RHEL 10 to prevent SSH users from logging on with blank passwords.

In "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d", create a drop file that will lexicographically precede 50-redhat.conf and add the following line:

PermitEmptyPasswords no

Restart the SSH daemon with the following command for the settings to take effect:

$ sudo systemctl restart sshd.service

Check Contents

Verify RHEL 10 remote access using SSH prevents logging on with a blank password with the following command:

$ sudo /usr/sbin/sshd -dd 2>&1 | awk '/filename/ {print $4}' | tr -d '\r' | tr '\n' ' ' | xargs sudo grep -iH '^\s*permitemptypasswords'
/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/10-stig.conf:PermitEmptyPasswords no

Verify the runtime setting with the following command:

$ sudo sshd -T | grep -i permitemptypasswords
permitemptypasswords no

If the "PermitEmptyPasswords" keyword is not set to "no" in a drop-in that lexicographically precedes 50-redhat.conf, or if no output is returned, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-281264

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-10-700610

Severity Override Guidance

Check Content Reference

Target Key

5733