The Ubuntu operating system must be configured so that when passwords are changed or new passwords are established, pwquality must be used.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-238228	UBTU-20-010057	SV-238228r653859_rule		Medium

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. "pwquality" enforces complex password construction configuration and has the ability to limit brute-force attacks on the system.

STIG	Date
Canonical Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-02-18

Details

Check Text ( C-41438r653857_chk )
Verify the Ubuntu operating system has the "libpam-pwquality" package installed by running the following command: $ dpkg -l libpam-pwquality ii libpam-pwquality:amd64 1.4.0-2 amd64 PAM module to check password strength If "libpam-pwquality" is not installed, this is a finding. Verify that the operating system uses "pwquality" to enforce the password complexity rules. Verify the pwquality module is being enforced by the Ubuntu operating system by running the following command: $ grep -i enforcing /etc/security/pwquality.conf enforcing = 1 If the value of "enforcing" is not "1" or the line is commented out, this is a finding. Check for the use of "pwquality" with the following command: $ cat /etc/pam.d/common-password \| grep requisite \| grep pam_pwquality password requisite pam_pwquality.so retry=3 If no output is returned or the line is commented out, this is a finding. If the value of "retry" is set to "0" or greater than "3", this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-41438r653857_chk )

Verify the Ubuntu operating system has the "libpam-pwquality" package installed by running the following command:

$ dpkg -l libpam-pwquality

ii libpam-pwquality:amd64 1.4.0-2 amd64 PAM module to check password strength

If "libpam-pwquality" is not installed, this is a finding.

Verify that the operating system uses "pwquality" to enforce the password complexity rules.

Verify the pwquality module is being enforced by the Ubuntu operating system by running the following command:

$ grep -i enforcing /etc/security/pwquality.conf

enforcing = 1

If the value of "enforcing" is not "1" or the line is commented out, this is a finding.

Check for the use of "pwquality" with the following command:

$ cat /etc/pam.d/common-password | grep requisite | grep pam_pwquality

password requisite pam_pwquality.so retry=3

If no output is returned or the line is commented out, this is a finding.

If the value of "retry" is set to "0" or greater than "3", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-41397r653858_fix)
Configure the operating system to use "pwquality" to enforce password complexity rules. Install the "pam_pwquality" package by using the following command: $ sudo apt-get install libpam-pwquality -y Add the following line to "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" (or modify the line to have the required value): enforcing = 1 Add the following line to "/etc/pam.d/common-password" (or modify the line to have the required value): password requisite pam_pwquality.so retry=3 Note: The value of "retry" should be between "1" and "3".

Fix Text (F-41397r653858_fix)

Configure the operating system to use "pwquality" to enforce password complexity rules.

Install the "pam_pwquality" package by using the following command:

$ sudo apt-get install libpam-pwquality -y

Add the following line to "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" (or modify the line to have the required value):

enforcing = 1

Add the following line to "/etc/pam.d/common-password" (or modify the line to have the required value):

password requisite pam_pwquality.so retry=3

Note: The value of "retry" should be between "1" and "3".