The macOS system must require that passwords contain a minimum of one special character.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-268538 | APPL-15-003011 | SV-268538r1131239_rule | CCI-004066 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| The macOS must be configured to require that at least one special character be used when a password is created. Special characters are 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 states that complexity rules must be organizationally defined. The values defined are based on common complexity values, but each organization may define its own password complexity rules. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Apple macOS 15 (Sequoia) Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-02-06 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-268538r1131239_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 -n +2 | /usr/bin/xmllint --xpath "//string[contains(text(), \"policyAttributePassword matches '(.*[^a-zA-Z0-9].*){\")]" - 2>/dev/null | /usr/bin/awk -F"{|}" '{if ($2 >= 1) {print "true"} else {print "false"}}'
If the result is not "true", this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-72469r1034553_fix)
Configure the macOS system to require that passwords contain a minimum of one special character by installing the "com.apple.mobiledevice.passwordpolicy" configuration profile.