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5.4.5 Ensure system-auth is used when changing passwords

Information

The operating system must be configured so that /etc/pam.d/passwd implements /etc/pam.d/system-auth when changing passwords.

Rationale:

Pluggable authentication modules (PAM) allow for a modular approach to integrating authentication methods. PAM operates in a top-down processing model and if the modules are not listed in the correct order, an important security function could be bypassed if stack entries are not centralized.

Solution

Configure PAM to utilize /etc/pam.d/system-auth when changing passwords.
Add the following line to /etc/pam.d/passwd (or modify the line to have the required value):
Example: vim /etc/pam.d/passwd
Add, uncomment or update the following line:

password substack system-auth

Additional Information:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version 3, Release: 4 Benchmark Date: 23 Jul 2021

Vul ID: V-204405

Rule ID: SV-204405r603261_rule

STIG ID: RHEL-07-010118

Severity: CAT II

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/3636

Item Details

Category: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION

References: 800-53|IA-5(1)(a), CCI|CCI-000192, CSCv7|4.4, Rule-ID|SV-204405r603261_rule, STIG-ID|RHEL-07-010118

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: c33236e653d03be58a710170fe21790ea4d785b957265767a892ee0c3afedc93