OL 9 must require the change of at least four character classes when passwords are changed.

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-271620OL09-00-001040SV-271620r1091572_ruleCCI-004066medium
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 a password, the greater the number of possible combinations that need to be tested before the password is compromised.
STIGDate
Oracle Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide2025-05-08

Details

Check Text (C-271620r1091572_chk)

Verify that OL 9 requires the change of at least four character classes when passwords are changed. Verify the value of the "minclass" option in "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" with the following command: $ grep minclass /etc/security/pwquality.conf /etc/security/pwquality.conf.d/*.conf minclass = 4 If the value of "minclass" is set to less than "4", or is commented out, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-75577r1091571_fix)

Configure OL 9 to require the change of at least four character classes when passwords are changed by setting the "minclass" option. Add the following line to "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" (or modify the line to have the required value): minclass = 4