The built-in Microsoft password complexity filter must be enabled.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
WN12-AC-000008	WN12-AC-000008	WN12-AC-000008_rule		Low

Description
The use of complex passwords increases their strength against guessing and brute-force attacks. This setting configures the system to verify that newly created passwords conform to the Windows password complexity policy.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Member Server Security Technical Implementation Guide	2013-07-25

Details

Check Text ( C-WN12-AC-000008_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. If the site is using a password filter that requires this setting be set to "Disabled" for the filter code to be used, this would not be considered a finding. If this setting does not affect the use of an external password filter, it will be enabled for fall-back purposes.

Check Text ( C-WN12-AC-000008_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.

If the site is using a password filter that requires this setting be set to "Disabled" for the filter code to be used, this would not be considered a finding. If this setting does not affect the use of an external password filter, it will be enabled for fall-back purposes.

Fix Text (F-WN12-AC-000008_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Account Policies -> Password Policy -> "Password must meet complexity requirements" to "Enabled".