NIST FIPS-validated cryptography must be used to protect passwords in the security database.

Severity	Group ID	Group Title	Version	Rule ID	Date	STIG Version
high	V-223729	SRG-OS-000073-GPOS-00041	RACF-ES-000820	SV-223729r998355_rule	2025-03-11	9

Description
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. Operating systems utilizing encryption are required to use FIPS-compliant mechanisms for authenticating to cryptographic modules. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000073-GPOS-00041, SRG-OS-000074-GPOS-00042, SRG-OS-000120-GPOS-00061

Description

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. Operating systems utilizing encryption are required to use FIPS-compliant mechanisms for authenticating to cryptographic modules. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000073-GPOS-00041, SRG-OS-000074-GPOS-00042, SRG-OS-000120-GPOS-00061

ℹ️ Check
From the ISPF Command Shell enter: SETRopts List If the following is specified under PASSWORD PROCESSING OPTIONS: THE ACTIVE PASSWORD ENCRYPTION ALGORITHM IS KDFAES, this is not a finding.

✔️ Fix
Evaluate the impact associated with implementation of the control option. Develop a plan of action to implement the control option as specified below: For z/OS release 1.12 through z/OS release 2.1 APARs OA43998 and OA43999 must be applied. Set the passwords option for algorithm to KDFAES. Sample syntax to activate: SETRopts PASSWORD(ALGORITHM(KDFAES))