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V-217401

CAT II (Medium)

If multifactor authentication is not supported and passwords must be used, the BIG-IP appliance must enforce password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used.

Rule ID

SV-217401r984099_rule

STIG

F5 BIG-IP Device Management Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V2R4

CCIs

CCI-000194

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 determine 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 BIG-IP appliance is configured to use a properly configured authentication server that enforces password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used. 

Navigate to the BIG-IP System manager >> System >> Users >> Authentication.

Verify "Authentication: User Directory" is configured for an approved remote authentication server that enforces password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used. 

If the BIG-IP appliance is not configured to use a properly configured authentication server that enforces password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the BIG-IP appliance to use a properly configured authentication server to enforce password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used.