The Ubuntu operating system must enforce password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used.
Severity | Group ID | Group Title | Version | Rule ID | Date | STIG Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| low | V-238223 | SRG-OS-000071-GPOS-00039 | UBTU-20-010052 | SV-238223r1015146_rule | 2025-03-03 | 2 |
| Description |
|---|
| Use of a complex password helps to increase the time and resources required to compromise the password. Password complexity, or strength, is a measure of the effectiveness of a password in resisting attempts at guessing and brute-force attacks. Password complexity is one factor of several that determines how long it takes to crack a password. The more complex the password, the greater the number of possible combinations that need to be tested before the password is compromised. |
| ℹ️ Check |
|---|
| Verify the Ubuntu operating system enforces password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used. Determine if the field "dcredit" is set in the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" file with the following command: $ grep -i "dcredit" /etc/security/pwquality.conf dcredit=-1 If the "dcredit" parameter is greater than "-1" or is commented out, this is a finding. |
| ✔️ Fix |
|---|
| Configure the Ubuntu operating system to enforce password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used. Add or update the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" file to contain the "dcredit" parameter: dcredit=-1 |