Ensure Passwords are Set for All MySQL Accounts

CriticalLevel 1Automatedmysql

Description

Blank passwords allow a user to login without using a password. Runs mysql -NBe with the client defaults: put an administrative account in ~/.my.cnf (mode 0600) or a mysql_config_editor login path, not MYSQL_PWD (see 1.4/1.6).

How it is checked

Audit method: SQL query

sql_query

out=$(mysql -NBe "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM mysql.user WHERE (plugin IN ('sha256_password', 'caching_sha2_password') AND LENGTH(authentication_string) = 0) OR (plugin IN ('mysql_native_password', 'mysql_old_password', '') AND (authentication_string IS NULL OR LENGTH(authentication_string) = 0))" 2>/dev/null) || exit 1; printf '%s\n' "$out"

Expected output: 0

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

ALTER USER <user>@<host> IDENTIFIED BY RANDOM PASSWORD PASSWORD EXPIRE; for each account returned, and hand the temporary password over securely.

Properties

Operating systems: Any
Tags: mysqldatabaseauthentication
Reference: CIS Oracle MySQL Community Server 8.4 Benchmark v1.1.0 - 7.3 Ensure Passwords are Set for All MySQL Accounts

Check this host

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

shell

tmaegis scan --target mysql