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V-282452

CAT II (Medium)

TOSS 5 must limit the maximum number of repeating characters of the same character class to four when passwords are changed.

Rule ID

SV-282452r1200336_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 "maxclassrepeat" option in "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" using the following command:

$ grep maxclassrepeat /etc/security/pwquality.conf 

maxclassrepeat = 4

If the value of "maxclassrepeat" is set to "0", more than "4", or is commented out, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure TOSS 5 to require the change of the number of repeating characters of the same character class when passwords are changed by setting the "maxclassrepeat" option.

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

maxclassrepeat = 4