Apple iOS must enforce a minimum password length of 6 or more characters.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-54237	AIOS-01-080004	SV-68483r1_rule		Medium

Description
Password strength is a measure of the effectiveness of a password in resisting guessing and brute-force attacks. The ability to crack a password is a function of how many attempts an adversary is permitted, how quickly an adversary can do each attempt, and the size of the password space. The longer the minimum length of the password is, the larger the password space. Having a too-short minimum password length significantly reduces password strength, increasing the chance of password compromise and resulting device and data compromise. SFR ID: FMT_SMF.1.1 #01

Description

Password strength is a measure of the effectiveness of a password in resisting guessing and brute-force attacks. The ability to crack a password is a function of how many attempts an adversary is permitted, how quickly an adversary can do each attempt, and the size of the password space. The longer the minimum length of the password is, the larger the password space. Having a too-short minimum password length significantly reduces password strength, increasing the chance of password compromise and resulting device and data compromise. SFR ID: FMT_SMF.1.1 #01

STIG	Date
Apple iOS 8 Interim Security Configuration Guide	2014-09-16

Details

Check Text ( C-54873r3_chk )
Review configuration settings to confirm the minimum passcode length is 6 or more. This procedure is performed in the iOS management tool and on 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 Management tool, verify the "Minimum passcode length" value is set to 6 or greater. Alternatively, verify the text "minLength 6" appears in the configuration profile (.mobileconfig file). It also is acceptable for the integer value to be greater than 6. On the iOS device: 1. Open the Settings app. 2. Tap "General". 3. Tap "Profiles" or "Profiles & Device Management" or "Device Management". 4. Tap the Configuration Profile from the iOS management tool containing the password policy. 5. Tap "Restrictions". 6. Tap "Passcode". 7. Verify "Minimum length" is listed as "6" or greater. If the "Minimum passcode length" is less than 6 characters in the iOS management tool, "minLength " has an integer value of less than 6, or the password policy on the iOS device from the iOS management tool does not list "Minimum length" of "6" or fewer, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-54873r3_chk )

Review configuration settings to confirm the minimum passcode length is 6 or more.

This procedure is performed in the iOS management tool and on 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 Management tool, verify the "Minimum passcode length" value is set to 6 or greater.
Alternatively, verify the text "minLength 6" appears in the configuration profile (.mobileconfig file). It also is acceptable for the integer value to be greater than 6.

On the iOS device:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap "General".
3. Tap "Profiles" or "Profiles & Device Management" or "Device Management".
4. Tap the Configuration Profile from the iOS management tool containing the password policy.
5. Tap "Restrictions".
6. Tap "Passcode".
7. Verify "Minimum length" is listed as "6" or greater.

If the "Minimum passcode length" is less than 6 characters in the iOS management tool, "minLength " has an integer value of less than 6, or the password policy on the iOS device from the iOS management tool does not list "Minimum length" of "6" or fewer, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-59091r1_fix)
Install a Configuration Profile to enforce a minimum passcode length value of 6 or greater.