Amazon Linux 2023 Security Technical Implementation Guide

The Amazon Linux 2023 Security Technical Implementation Guide (V1 R5) has 187 STIG checks. New to STIG checklists? Read What is a STIG checklist?, CKL vs CKLB, and STIG vs SCAP benchmark.

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Severity

Version

V1 · R5

CurrentPublished Wed Sep 30 2026

Amazon Linux 2023 SSHD must not allow blank passwords.

Amazon Linux 2023 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Assessment Title

Rule Text

Amazon Linux 2023 SSHD must not allow blank passwords.

Description

Discussion Text

If an account has an empty password, anyone could log on and run commands with the privileges of that account. Accounts with empty passwords must never be used in operational environments.

Satisfies: SRG-OS-000106-GPOS-00053, SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00229

New to STIG checklists? Read What is a STIG checklist? and CKL vs CKLB.

Objective

V-274048

Rule

SV-274048r1120132_rule

Severity

medium

Rule Version

AZLX-23-001235

Documentable

false

IA Controls

NIST SP 800-53

Rev 5

Assessment Procedure

Check Text

Verify Amazon Linux 2023 remote access using SSH prevents logging on with a blank password with the following command:

$ sudo grep -ir PermitEmptyPasswords /etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/
/etc/ssh/sshd_config:PermitEmptyPasswords no

If the "PermitEmptyPassword" keyword is set to "yes", is missing, or is commented out, this is a finding.

Implementation Procedure

Fix Text

Configure Amazon Linux 2023 to prevent SSH users from logging on with blank passwords.

Edit the following line in "etc/ssh/sshd_config" or in a file in "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d":

PermitEmptyPasswords no

Restart the SSH daemon for the settings to take effect:

$ sudo systemctl restart sshd.service

STIG check 53 of 187 in the Amazon Linux 2023 STIG checklist

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