V-282450

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

Check Content

Verify TOSS 5 enforces password complexity rules for the root account.

Check if root user is required to use complex passwords using the following command:

$ grep enforce_for_root /etc/security/pwquality.conf /etc/security/pwquality.conf/*.conf

/etc/security/pwquality.conf:enforce_for_root

If "enforce_for_root" is commented or missing, this is a finding.