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The Cisco switch must be configured to require that when a password is changed, the characters are changed in at least eight of the positions within the password.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-220594 CISC-ND-000610 SV-220594r521267_rule Medium
Description
If the application allows the user to consecutively reuse extensive portions of passwords, this increases the chances of password compromise by increasing the window of opportunity for attempts at guessing and brute-force attacks. The number of changed characters refers to the number of changes required with respect to the total number of positions in the current password. In other words, characters may be the same within the two passwords; however, the positions of the like characters must be different. Multifactor authentication (MFA) is required for all administrative and user accounts on network devices, except for an account of last resort and (where applicable) a root account. Passwords should only be used when MFA using PKI is not available and for the account of last resort and root account.
STIG Date
Cisco IOS Switch NDM Security Technical Implementation Guide 2021-06-02

Details

Check Text ( C-22309r507828_chk )
Review the Cisco switch configuration to verify that, when a password is changed, it requires the characters to be changed in at least eight of the positions as shown in the example below:

aaa new-model
!
!
aaa common-criteria policy PASSWORD_POLICY
char-changes 8

If the Cisco switch is not configured to require that when a password is changed, the characters are changed in at least eight of the positions within the password, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-22298r507829_fix)
Configure the Cisco switch to enforce password complexity by requiring that when a password is changed, the characters are changed in at least eight of the positions within the password as shown in the example below:

SW1(config)#aaa common-criteria policy PASSWORD_POLICY
SW1(config-cc-policy)#char-changes 8
SW1(config-cc-policy)#exit