UBTU-16-010170 - The Ubuntu operating system must employ FIPS 140-2 approved cryptographic hashing algorithms for all created passwords.

Information

The system must use a strong hashing algorithm to store the password. The system must use a sufficient number of hashing rounds to ensure the required level of entropy.

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.

Satisfies: SRG-OS-000073-GPOS-00041, SRG-OS-000120-GPOS-00061

Solution

Configure the Ubuntu operating system to encrypt all stored passwords with a strong cryptographic hash.

Edit/modify the following line in the '/etc/pam.d/common-password' file and set 'rounds' to a value no lower than '5000':

password [success=1 default=ignore] pam_unix.so obscure sha512 rounds=5000

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_CAN_Ubuntu_16-04_LTS_V2R3_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION

References: 800-53|IA-5(1)(c), 800-53|IA-7, CAT|II, CCI|CCI-000196, CCI|CCI-000803, Rule-ID|SV-214956r610931_rule, STIG-ID|UBTU-16-010170, STIG-Legacy|SV-90143, STIG-Legacy|V-75463, Vuln-ID|V-214956

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: e2770f11154be4ed0e8557f00ed78c634eff99d0cfc679446a83c06e0d4ab4dc