NixOS must enforce password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-268128 | ANIX-00-000750 | SV-268128r1131061_rule | CCI-004066 | medium |
| 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. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Anduril NixOS Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-08-19 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-268128r1131061_chk)
Verify NixOS enforces password complexity by requiring at least one numeric character with the following command:
$ grep dcredit /etc/security/pwquality.conf
dcredit=-1
If the value of "dcredit" is a positive number or is commented out, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-71955r1131060_fix)
Configure NixOS to enforce password complexity.
Add the following Nix code to the NixOS Configuration, usually located in /etc/nixos/configuration.nix or /etc/nixos/flake.nix:
environment.etc."/security/pwquality.conf".text = ''
dcredit=-1
'';
Rebuild and switch to the new NixOS configuration:
$ sudo nixos-rebuild switch