Ubuntu OS must enforce password complexity by requiring at least one numeric character be used.
Severity | Group ID | Group Title | Version | Rule ID | Date | STIG Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium | V-275651 | SRG-OS-000071-GPOS-00039 | RIIM-OS-611020 | SV-275651r1148003_rule | 2025-10-02 | 1 |
| Description |
|---|
| 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. |
| ℹ️ Check |
|---|
| Verify with the following command that Ubuntu OS enforces password complexity by requiring at least one numeric character be used: $ grep -i dcredit /etc/security/pwquality.conf dcredit = -1 If "dcredit" is greater than "-1", is commented out, or is missing, this is a finding. |
| ✔️ Fix |
|---|
| Configure Ubuntu OS to enforce password complexity by requiring at least one numeric character be used. Add or modify the following line in the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" file: dcredit = -1 |