Ubuntu OS must be configured so that when passwords are changed or new passwords are established, pwquality must be used.

Severity	Group ID	Group Title	Version	Rule ID	Date	STIG Version
medium	V-275656	SRG-OS-000710-GPOS-00160	RIIM-OS-611045	SV-275656r1148018_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. "pwquality" enforces complex password construction configuration and has the ability to limit brute-force attacks on the system. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000710-GPOS-00160, SRG-OS-000725-GPOS-00180, SRG-OS-000730-GPOS-00190, SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00225

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. "pwquality" enforces complex password construction configuration and has the ability to limit brute-force attacks on the system. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000710-GPOS-00160, SRG-OS-000725-GPOS-00180, SRG-OS-000730-GPOS-00190, SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00225

ℹ️ Check
Verify Ubuntu OS enforces password complexity rules by using the following command: $ grep -i enforcing /etc/security/pwquality.conf enforcing = 1 If "enforcing" is not "1", is commented out, or is missing, this is a finding. Check for the use of "pwquality" by using the following command: $ cat /etc/pam.d/common-password \| grep requisite \| grep pam_pwquality password requisite pam_pwquality.so retry=3 If "retry" is set to "0" or is greater than "3", or is missing, this is a finding.

ℹ️ Check

Verify Ubuntu OS enforces password complexity rules by using the following command: $ grep -i enforcing /etc/security/pwquality.conf enforcing = 1 If "enforcing" is not "1", is commented out, or is missing, this is a finding. Check for the use of "pwquality" by using the following command: $ cat /etc/pam.d/common-password | grep requisite | grep pam_pwquality password requisite pam_pwquality.so retry=3 If "retry" is set to "0" or is greater than "3", or is missing, this is a finding.

✔️ Fix
Configure Ubuntu OS to enforce password complexity rules. Add or modify the following line in the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" file: enforcing = 1 Add or modify the following line in the "/etc/pam.d/common-password" file: password requisite pam_pwquality.so retry=3 Note: The value of "retry" should be between "1" and "3".