The Oracle Linux operating system must be configured so that when passwords are changed or new passwords are established, pwquality must be used.

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-221668OL07-00-010119SV-221668r1015165_ruleCCI-000192medium
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. Satisfied: SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00229, SRG-OS-000069-GPOS-00037
STIGDate
Oracle Linux 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide2025-05-08

Details

Check Text (C-221668r1015165_chk)

Verify the operating system uses "pwquality" to enforce the password complexity rules. Check for the use of "pwquality" with the following command: # cat /etc/pam.d/system-auth | grep pam_pwquality password requisite pam_pwquality.so retry=3 If the command does not return an uncommented line containing the value "pam_pwquality.so" as shown, this is a finding. If the value of "retry" is set to "0" or greater than "3", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-23372r902778_fix)

Configure the operating system to use "pwquality" to enforce password complexity rules. Add the following line to "/etc/pam.d/system-auth" (or modify the line to have the required value): password requisite pam_pwquality.so retry=3 Note: The value of "retry" should be between "1" and "3".