The macOS system must require passwords contain a minimum of one lowercase character and one uppercase character.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-259550	APPL-14-003060	SV-259550r941272_rule		Medium

Description
The macOS be configured to require at least one lowercase character and one uppercase character be used when a password is created. 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. Note: The configuration profile generated must be installed from an MDM server. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000069-GPOS-00037,SRG-OS-000070-GPOS-00038

Description

The macOS be configured to require at least one lowercase character and one uppercase character be used when a password is created. 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. Note: The configuration profile generated must be installed from an MDM server. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000069-GPOS-00037,SRG-OS-000070-GPOS-00038

STIG	Date
Apple macOS 14 (Sonoma) Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-01-10

Details

Check Text ( C-63289r941270_chk )
Verify the macOS system is configured to require passwords contain a minimum of one lowercase character and one uppercase 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-Z]{1,}[a-z]{1,}.*'\''")])' - If the result is not "true", this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-63289r941270_chk )

Verify the macOS system is configured to require passwords contain a minimum of one lowercase character and one uppercase 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-Z]{1,}[a-z]{1,}.*'\''")])' -

If the result is not "true", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-63197r941271_fix)
Configure the macOS system to require at least one lowercase character and one uppercase character in password complexity by installing the "com.apple.mobiledevice.passwordpolicy" configuration profile.