5.2.9 Ensure SSH PermitEmptyPasswords is disabled (Scored)

Level 1 - Server
Level 1 - Workstation 

The PermitEmptyPasswords parameter specifies if the SSH server allows login to accounts with empty password strings.

Disallowing remote shell access to accounts that have an empty password reduces the probability of unauthorized access to the system

Run the following command and verify that output matches:

# grep "^PermitEmptyPasswords" /etc/ssh/sshd_config 
PermitEmptyPasswords no

Edit the /etc/ssh/sshd_config file to set the parameter as follows:

PermitEmptyPasswords no