FTP default account accessible

Risk Level: High risk vulnerability  High

Check or Attack Name: defftp

Platforms: Any
Description:

An accessible default account was detected through FTP. Default accounts through FTP allow attackers easy access to remote systems.

Remedy:

Disable the open account or change the password to something difficult to guess.

Unix: Disable login access to this Unix account if it is not needed:

  1. Edit the /etc/passwd file.
  2. Locate the account.
  3. Place an * (asterisk) in the password field.
  4. Place the string /bin/false in the shell field. An example of the /etc/passwd entry for a disabled guest account should resemble the following: guest:*:2311:50:Guest User:/home/guest:/bin/false
  5. Save and exit the file.

Windows: Change the password on this account to something difficult to guess, or disable login access to this Windows account.

To change a password on a Windows account, follow these steps:

  1. Open User Manager. From the Windows NT Start menu, select Programs, Administrative Tools (Common), User Manager.
  2. Double-click the account to display the User Properties dialog box.
  3. To change the password to something difficult to guess, type and confirm the new password.
  4. Click OK.

—OR—

To disable login access to a Windows account, follow these steps:

  1. Open User Manager. From the Windows NT Start menu, select Programs, Administrative Tools (Common), User Manager.
  2. Double-click the account to display the User Properties dialog box.
  3. To disable the account, select the Account Disabled check box.
  4. Click OK.
References:

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