Title

The Ubuntu operating system must employ a FIPS 140-2 approved cryptographic hashing algorithms for all created and stored passwords. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

The Ubuntu operating system must use a FIPS-compliant hashing algorithm to securely store the password. The FIPS-compliant hashing algorithm parameters must be selected in order to harden the system against offline attacks.

Check Content

Verify that encrypted passwords stored in /etc/shadow use a strong cryptographic hash. Check that pam_unix.so auth is configured to use sha512 with the following command: # grep password /etc/pam.d/common-password | grep pam_unix password [success=1 default=ignore] pam_unix.so obscure sha512 If "sha512" is not an option of the output, or is commented out, this is a finding. Check that ENCRYPT_METHOD is set to sha512 in /etc/login.defs: # grep -i ENCRYPT_METHOD /etc/login.defs ENCRYPT_METHOD SHA512 If the output does not contain "sha512", or it is commented out, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the Ubuntu operating system to encrypt all stored passwords with a strong cryptographic hash. Edit/modify the following line in the file "/etc/pam.d/common-password" file to include the sha512 option for pam_unix.so: password [success=1 default=ignore] pam_unix.so obscure sha512 Edit/modify /etc/login.defs and set "ENCRYPT_METHOD sha512".

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-219182r610963_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-219182

Group Title: SRG-OS-000120-GPOS-00061

Expert Comments

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