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V-203627

CAT II (Medium)

The operating system must enforce password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used.

Rule ID

SV-203627r982197_rule

STIG

General Purpose Operating System Security Requirements Guide

Version

V3R3

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 the operating system enforces password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used. If it does not, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the operating system to enforce password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used.