← Rules Catalog
mediumauditverified rollback-safe

Audit uses of the unix_chkpwd command

audit-cmd-unix-chkpwd · RHEL ≥ 8 · 1 impl

Description

All uses of the unix_chkpwd command must be audited. The unix_chkpwd helper is used by PAM to verify passwords.

Rationale

Auditing unix_chkpwd usage allows detection of password verification attempts that could indicate brute force attacks.

Check → Remediate

Checkaudit_rule_exists
rule:
-a always,exit -F path=/usr/sbin/unix_chkpwd -F perm=x -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=unset -k privileged
Remediateaudit_rule_set
rule:
-a always,exit -F path=/usr/sbin/unix_chkpwd -F perm=x -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=unset -k privileged
persist_file:
/etc/audit/rules.d/50-privileged.rules

Framework references

STIG

V-281143 / RHEL-10-500570V-258206 / RHEL-09-654160V-230433

NIST 800-53

AU-2AU-12

Live verification

rhel8:checkrhel9:check
#audit#auditd#privileged#pam