The Ubuntu operating system must prevent the use of dictionary words for passwords.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-75481	UBTU-16-010260	SV-90161r4_rule		Medium

Description
If the Ubuntu operating system allows the user to select passwords based on dictionary words, this increases the chances of password compromise by increasing the opportunity for successful guesses and brute-force attacks.

STIG	Date
Canonical Ubuntu 16.04 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2020-05-29

Details

Check Text ( C-75185r4_chk )

Verify the Ubuntu operating system prevents the use of dictionary words for passwords. Determine if the field "dictcheck" is set in the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" or "/etc/pwquality.conf.d/*.conf" files with the following command: # grep dictcheck /etc/security/pwquality.conf /etc/pwquality.conf.d/*.conf dictcheck=1 If the "dictcheck" parameter is not set to "1", or is commented out, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-82109r3_fix)
Configure the Ubuntu operating system to prevent the use of dictionary words for passwords. Add or update the following line in the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" file or a configuration file in the /etc/pwquality.conf.d/ directory to contain the "dictcheck" parameter: dictcheck=1