The Juniper EX 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-253909	JUEX-NM-000320	SV-253909r944345_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. Note: For older Juniper EX versions, only four characters may be changed instead of the DOD-required eight characters. If so, four characters should be selected. This remains a finding when set to four characters, but is mitigated to a CAT 3.

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. Note: For older Juniper EX versions, only four characters may be changed instead of the DOD-required eight characters. If so, four characters should be selected. This remains a finding when set to four characters, but is mitigated to a CAT 3.

STIG	Date
Juniper EX Series Switches Network Device Management Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-12-18

Details

Check Text ( C-57361r944343_chk )
For older Juniper EX versions, only four characters may be changed instead of the DOD-required eight characters. If so, four characters should be selected. This remains a finding when set to four characters, but is mitigated to a CAT 3. Where passwords are used, confirm the characters are changed in at least eight of the positions within the password. This requirement may be verified by demonstration, configuration review, or validated test results. [edit system login password] : minimum-changes 8; : If the network device and associated authentication server does not 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.

Check Text ( C-57361r944343_chk )

For older Juniper EX versions, only four characters may be changed instead of the DOD-required eight characters. If so, four characters should be selected. This remains a finding when set to four characters, but is mitigated to a CAT 3.

Where passwords are used, confirm the characters are changed in at least eight of the positions within the password. This requirement may be verified by demonstration, configuration review, or validated test results.

[edit system login password]
:
minimum-changes 8;
:

If the network device and associated authentication server does not 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-57312r944344_fix)
Configure the network device and associated authentication server to require that when a password is changed, the characters are changed in at least eight of the positions within the password. set system login password minimum-changes 8 Note: For older Juniper EX versions, only four characters may be changed instead of the DOD-required eight characters. If so, four characters should be selected. This remains a finding when set to four characters, but is mitigated to a CAT 3.

Fix Text (F-57312r944344_fix)

Configure the network device and associated authentication server to require that when a password is changed, the characters are changed in at least eight of the positions within the password.

set system login password minimum-changes 8

Note: For older Juniper EX versions, only four characters may be changed instead of the DOD-required eight characters. If so, four characters should be selected. This remains a finding when set to four characters, but is mitigated to a CAT 3.