Set Password Hashing Algorithm in /etc/login.defs

An XCCDF Rule

Description

In /etc/login.defs, add or correct the following line to ensure the system will use as the hashing algorithm:

ENCRYPT_METHOD

Rationale

Passwords need to be protected at all times, and encryption is the standard method for protecting passwords. If passwords are not encrypted, they can be plainly read (i.e., clear text) and easily compromised. Passwords that are encrypted with a weak algorithm are no more protected than if they are kept in plain text.

Using a stronger hashing algorithm makes password cracking attacks more difficult.

ID: xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_rule_set_password_hashing_algorithm_logindefs
Severity: Medium
References: BP28(R32)

1 12 15 16 5

5.6.2.2

DSS05.04 DSS05.05 DSS05.07 DSS05.10 DSS06.03 DSS06.10

3.13.11

CCI-000196

4.3.3.2.2 4.3.3.5.1 4.3.3.5.2 4.3.3.6.1 4.3.3.6.2 4.3.3.6.3 4.3.3.6.4 4.3.3.6.5 4.3.3.6.6 4.3.3.6.7 4.3.3.6.8 4.3.3.6.9 4.3.3.7.2 4.3.3.7.4

SR 1.1 SR 1.10 SR 1.2 SR 1.3 SR 1.4 SR 1.5 SR 1.7 SR 1.8 SR 1.9 SR 2.1

0418 1055 1402

A.18.1.4 A.7.1.1 A.9.2.1 A.9.2.2 A.9.2.3 A.9.2.4 A.9.2.6 A.9.3.1 A.9.4.2 A.9.4.3

CM-6(a) IA-5(1)(c) IA-5(c)

PR.AC-1 PR.AC-6 PR.AC-7

Req-8.2.1

8.3.2

SRG-OS-000073-GPOS-00041
Updated: about 1 year ago

- name: Gather the package facts
  package_facts:
    manager: auto
  tags:
  - CJIS-5.6.2.2
  - NIST-800-171-3.13.11  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - NIST-800-53-IA-5(1)(c)
  - NIST-800-53-IA-5(c)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-8.2.1
  - PCI-DSSv4-8.3.2
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - restrict_strategy
  - set_password_hashing_algorithm_logindefs
- name: XCCDF Value var_password_hashing_algorithm # promote to variable
  set_fact:
    var_password_hashing_algorithm: !!str <xccdf-1.2:sub xmlns:xccdf-1.2="http://checklists.nist.gov/xccdf/1.2" idref="xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_value_var_password_hashing_algorithm" use="legacy"/>
  tags:
    - always

- name: Set Password Hashing Algorithm in /etc/login.defs
  lineinfile:
    dest: /etc/login.defs
    regexp: ^#?ENCRYPT_METHOD
    line: ENCRYPT_METHOD {{ var_password_hashing_algorithm }}
    state: present
    create: true
  when: '"shadow-utils" in ansible_facts.packages'
  tags:
  - CJIS-5.6.2.2
  - NIST-800-171-3.13.11
  - NIST-800-53-CM-6(a)
  - NIST-800-53-IA-5(1)(c)
  - NIST-800-53-IA-5(c)
  - PCI-DSS-Req-8.2.1
  - PCI-DSSv4-8.3.2
  - low_complexity
  - low_disruption
  - medium_severity
  - no_reboot_needed
  - restrict_strategy
  - set_password_hashing_algorithm_logindefs

# Remediation is applicable only in certain platforms
if rpm --quiet -q shadow-utils; then

var_password_hashing_algorithm='<xccdf-1.2:sub xmlns:xccdf-1.2="http://checklists.nist.gov/xccdf/1.2" idref="xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_value_var_password_hashing_algorithm" use="legacy"/>'

# Strip any search characters in the key arg so that the key can be replaced without# adding any search characters to the config file.
stripped_key=$(sed 's/[\^=\$,;+]*//g' <<< "^ENCRYPT_METHOD")

# shellcheck disable=SC2059
printf -v formatted_output "%s %s" "$stripped_key" "$var_password_hashing_algorithm"

# If the key exists, change it. Otherwise, add it to the config_file.
# We search for the key string followed by a word boundary (matched by \>),
# so if we search for 'setting', 'setting2' won't match.
if LC_ALL=C grep -q -m 1 -i -e "^ENCRYPT_METHOD\\>" "/etc/login.defs"; then
    escaped_formatted_output=$(sed -e 's|/|\\/|g' <<< "$formatted_output")
    LC_ALL=C sed -i --follow-symlinks "s/^ENCRYPT_METHOD\\>.*/$escaped_formatted_output/gi" "/etc/login.defs"
else
    if [[ -s "/etc/login.defs" ]] && [[ -n "$(tail -c 1 -- "/etc/login.defs" || true)" ]]; then
        LC_ALL=C sed -i --follow-symlinks '$a'\\ "/etc/login.defs"
    fi
    printf '%s\n' "$formatted_output" >> "/etc/login.defs"
fi

else
    >&2 echo 'Remediation is not applicable, nothing was done'
fi

Set Password Hashing Algorithm in /etc/login.defs

Description

Rationale

Remediation - Ansible

Remediation - Shell Script