The Ubuntu operating system must enforce password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-238223 | UBTU-20-010052 | SV-238223r1015146_rule | CCI-000194 | low |
| 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. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Canonical Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-16 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-238223r1015146_chk)
Verify the Ubuntu operating system enforces password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used.
Determine if the field "dcredit" is set in the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" file with the following command:
$ grep -i "dcredit" /etc/security/pwquality.conf
dcredit=-1
If the "dcredit" parameter is greater than "-1" or is commented out, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-41392r653843_fix)
Configure the Ubuntu operating system to enforce password complexity by requiring that at least one numeric character be used.
Add or update the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" file to contain the "dcredit" parameter:
dcredit=-1