Ensure pwd_algorithm is configured

MediumLevel 1Automatedaix

Description

Defines the loadable password algorithm used when storing user passwords. A development since AIX 5.1 was the ability to use different password algorithms as defined in /etc/security/pwdalg.cfg. The traditional UNIX password algorithm is crypt, which is a one-way hash function supporting only 8 character passwords. Audit: reads `lssec -f /etc/security/login.cfg -s usw -a pwd_algorithm`.

How it is checked

Audit method: Shell command

shell

command -v lssec >/dev/null 2>&1 || exit 1; out=$(lssec -f /etc/security/login.cfg -s usw -a pwd_algorithm 2>/dev/null) || exit 1; v=$(printf '%s\n' "$out" | sed -n 's/.*pwd_algorithm=\([^ ]*\).*/\1/p'); if [ "$v" = 'ssha512' ]; then echo compliant; else echo "pwd_algorithm=$v"; fi

Expected output: compliant

How it is fixed

Fix method: Shell command

shell

chsec -f /etc/security/login.cfg -s usw -a pwd_algorithm=ssha512

Properties

Operating systems: Any
Tags: aixpassword-policy
Reference: CIS IBM AIX 7 Benchmark v1.2.0 - 5.2.7 Ensure pwd_algorithm is configured

Check this host

Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.

shell

tmaegis scan --target aix