The built-in Windows password complexity policy must be enabled.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-225273	WN12-AC-000008	SV-225273r569185_rule		Medium

Description
The use of complex passwords increases their strength against attack. The built-in Windows password complexity policy requires passwords to contain at least 3 of the 4 types of characters (numbers, upper- and lower-case letters, and special characters), as well as preventing the inclusion of user names or parts of.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 Member Server Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-02-27

Details

Check Text ( C-26972r471161_chk )
Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor. Run "gpedit.msc". Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy. If the value for "Password must meet complexity requirements" is not set to "Enabled", this is a finding. Note: If an external password filter is in use that enforces all 4 character types and requires this setting be set to "Disabled", this would not be considered a finding. If this setting does not affect the use of an external password filter, it must be enabled for fallback purposes.

Check Text ( C-26972r471161_chk )

Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor.
Run "gpedit.msc".

Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy.

If the value for "Password must meet complexity requirements" is not set to "Enabled", this is a finding.

Note: If an external password filter is in use that enforces all 4 character types and requires this setting be set to "Disabled", this would not be considered a finding. If this setting does not affect the use of an external password filter, it must be enabled for fallback purposes.

Fix Text (F-26960r471162_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings -> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy >> "Password must meet complexity requirements" to "Enabled".