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V-275649

CAT II (Medium)

Ubuntu OS must enforce password complexity by requiring at least one uppercase character be used.

Rule ID

SV-275649r1147997_rule

STIG

Riverbed NetIM OS Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V1R1

CCIs

CCI-004066

Discussion

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.

Check Content

Verify Ubuntu OS enforces password complexity by requiring at least one uppercase character be used by using the following command:  
  
     $ grep -i ucredit /etc/security/pwquality.conf 
     ucredit = -1  
  
If "ucredit" is greater than "-1", is commented out, or is missing, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure Ubuntu OS and NetIMAdmin account to enforce password complexity by requiring that at least one uppercase character be used.  
 
Add or modify the following line in the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" file: 
  
ucredit = -1