Apple iOS must disallow more than an organizationally-defined quantity of sequential numbers (e.g., 456) in the device unlock password.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-43820	AIOS-01-000007	SV-56642r1_rule		Medium

Description
Password complexity or strength refers to how difficult it is to determine a password using a dictionary or brute-force attack. Passwords with sequential numbers (e.g., 456 or 987) are considered easier to crack than random patterns. Therefore, disallowing sequential numbers makes it more difficult for an adversary to discover the password.

STIG	Date
Apple iOS 7 STIG	2014-01-30

Details

Check Text ( C-49408r4_chk )
This check procedure is performed on both the iOS Over-the-Air management tool and the iOS device. Note: If an organization has multiple configuration profiles, then the check procedure must be performed on the relevant configuration profiles applicable to the scope of the review. In the iOS Over-the-Air management tool, verify "Allow simple value" is unchecked. For example, in Mobile Iron Admin Portal: 1. Ask the MDM administrator to display the "POLICIES & CONFIGS". 2. Click or tap on the word "Policies". 3. Click or tap the policy name. 4. Expand "Details" under "Policy Details". 5. Verify "Password Type" does not contain "Simple". Alternatively, verify the text "allowSimple " appears in the configuration profile (.mobileconfig file). On the iOS device: 1. Open the Settings app. 2. Tap "General". 3. Tap "Profiles". 4. Verify the password policy from the iOS Over-the-Air management tool is present. If "Allow simple value" is turned on in the iOS Over-the-Air management tool, or if "allowSimple " appears in the config profile, or the password policy from the iOS Over-the-Air management tool is not present on the iOS device, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-49408r4_chk )

This check procedure is performed on both the iOS Over-the-Air management tool and the iOS device.
Note: If an organization has multiple configuration profiles, then the check procedure must be performed on the relevant configuration profiles applicable to the scope of the review.

In the iOS Over-the-Air management tool, verify "Allow simple value" is unchecked.
For example, in Mobile Iron Admin Portal:
1. Ask the MDM administrator to display the "POLICIES & CONFIGS".
2. Click or tap on the word "Policies".
3. Click or tap the policy name.
4. Expand "Details" under "Policy Details".
5. Verify "Password Type" does not contain "Simple".

Alternatively, verify the text "allowSimple " appears in the configuration profile (.mobileconfig file).

On the iOS device:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap "General".
3. Tap "Profiles".
4. Verify the password policy from the iOS Over-the-Air management tool is present.

If "Allow simple value" is turned on in the iOS Over-the-Air management tool, or if "allowSimple " appears in the config profile, or the password policy from the iOS Over-the-Air management tool is not present on the iOS device, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-49429r3_fix)
Configure Apple iOS to disallow more than 2 sequential numbers in the device unlock password. In the iOS Over-the-Air management tool, uncheck "Allow simple value". For example, in Mobile Iron Admin Portal, edit the policy and deselect the "Simple" checkbox for "Password Type".