Rule ID
SV-269389r1050272_rule
Version
V1R6
CCIs
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.
Verify that AlmaLinux OS 9 enforces password complexity by requiring at least one uppercase character with the following command: $ grep -r ucredit /etc/security/pwquality.conf* /etc/security/pwquality.conf.d/stig.conf:ucredit = -1 If the value of "ucredit" is a positive number, is not set, is commented out, or if conflicting results are returned, this is a finding.
Configure AlmaLinux OS 9 to enforce password complexity by requiring at least one uppercase character be used by setting the "ucredit" option. Add or update the following line in the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" file or a configuration file in the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf.d/" directory: ucredit = -1 Remove any configurations that conflict with the above value.