1.4.3 Ensure authentication required for single user mode (Scored)
Profile Applicability
Level 1 - Server Level 1 - Workstation
Description
Single user mode is used for recovery when the system detects an issue during boot or by manual selection from the bootloader.
Rationale
Requiring authentication in single user mode prevents an unauthorized user from rebooting the system into single user to gain root privileges without credentials.
Audit
Perform the following to determine if a password is set for the root
user:
# grep ^root:[*\!]: /etc/shadow
No results should be returned.
Remediation
Run the following command and follow the prompts to set a password for the root
user:
# passwd root