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V-282453

CAT II (Medium)

TOSS 5 must limit the maximum number of repeating characters to three when passwords are changed.

Rule ID

SV-282453r1200339_rule

STIG

Tri-Lab Operating System Stack (TOSS) 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V1R1

CCIs

CCI-004066

Discussion

Using 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 a password, the greater the number of possible combinations that must be tested before the password is compromised.

Check Content

Verify the value of the "maxrepeat" option in "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" using the following command:

$ grep maxrepeat /etc/security/pwquality.conf 

maxrepeat = 3

If the value of "maxrepeat" is set to more than "3", or is commented out, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure TOSS 5 to require changing the number of repeating consecutive characters when passwords are changed by setting the "maxrepeat" option.

Add the following line to "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" (or modify the line to have the required value):

maxrepeat = 3