Ubuntu 22.04 LTS 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-260567	UBTU-22-611045	SV-260567r953514_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 22.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-03-21

Details

Check Text ( C-64296r953512_chk )
Verify Ubuntu 22.04 LTS enforces password complexity rules by using the following command: $ grep -i enforcing /etc/security/pwquality.conf enforcing = 1 If "enforcing" is not "1", is commented out, or is missing, this is a finding. Check for the use of "pwquality" by using the following command: $ cat /etc/pam.d/common-password \| grep requisite \| grep pam_pwquality password requisite pam_pwquality.so retry=3 If "retry" is set to "0" or is greater than "3", or is missing, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-64296r953512_chk )

Verify Ubuntu 22.04 LTS enforces password complexity rules by using the following command:

$ grep -i enforcing /etc/security/pwquality.conf
enforcing = 1

If "enforcing" is not "1", is commented out, or is missing, this is a finding.

Check for the use of "pwquality" by using the following command:

$ cat /etc/pam.d/common-password | grep requisite | grep pam_pwquality
password requisite pam_pwquality.so retry=3

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

Fix Text (F-64204r953513_fix)
Configure Ubuntu 22.04 LTS to enforce password complexity rules. Add or modify the following line in the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" file: enforcing = 1 Add or modify the following line in the "/etc/pam.d/common-password" file: password requisite pam_pwquality.so retry=3 Note: The value of "retry" should be between "1" and "3".