Rule ID
SV-282449r1200327_rule
Version
V1R1
CCIs
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 the password, the greater the number of possible combinations that must be tested before the password is compromised. Requiring digits makes password guessing attacks more difficult by ensuring a larger search space.
Verify TOSS 5 enforces password complexity by requiring at least one numeric character. Check the value for "dcredit" using the following command: $ sudo grep dcredit /etc/security/pwquality.conf /etc/security/pwquality.conf/*.conf /etc/security/pwquality.conf:dcredit = -1 If the value of "dcredit" is a positive number or is commented out, this is a finding.
Configure TOSS 5 to enforce password complexity by requiring at least one numeric character be used by setting the "dcredit" option. Add the following line to "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" (or modify the line to have the required value): dcredit = -1