The macOS system must require passwords contain a minimum of one special character.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-259541 | APPL-14-003011 | SV-259541r1009597_rule | CCI-004066 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| The macOS must be configured to require at least one special character be used when a password is created. Special characters are those characters that are not alphanumeric. Examples include: ~ ! @ # $ % ^ *. This rule enforces password complexity by requiring users to set passwords that are less vulnerable to malicious users. Note: The guidance for password-based authentication in NIST 800-53 (Rev 5) and NIST 800-63B state that complexity rules should be organizationally defined. The values defined are based on common complexity values, but an organization may define its own password complexity rules. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Apple macOS 14 (Sonoma) Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2024-12-04 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-259541r1009597_chk)
Verify the macOS system is configured to require passwords contain a minimum of one special character with the following command:
/usr/bin/pwpolicy -getaccountpolicies 2> /dev/null | /usr/bin/tail +2 | /usr/bin/xmllint --xpath 'boolean(//*[contains(text(),"policyAttributePassword matches '\''(.*[^a-zA-Z0-9].*){1,}'\''")])' -
If the result is not "true", this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-63188r941244_fix)
Configure the macOS system to require passwords contain a minimum of one special character by installing the "com.apple.mobiledevice.passwordpolicy" configuration profile.