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The Oracle Linux operating system must be configured so that when passwords are changed or new passwords are established, the new password must contain at least one special character.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-221672 OL07-00-010150 SV-221672r603260_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. Password complexity is one factor of several that determines how long it takes to crack a password. The more complex the password, the greater the number of possible combinations that need to be tested before the password is compromised.
STIG Date
Oracle Linux 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2022-12-06

Details

Check Text ( C-23387r419088_chk )
Verify the operating system enforces password complexity by requiring that at least one special character be used.

Note: The value to require a number of special characters to be set is expressed as a negative number in "/etc/security/pwquality.conf".

Check the value for "ocredit" in "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" with the following command:

# grep ocredit /etc/security/pwquality.conf
ocredit=-1

If the value of "ocredit" is not set to a negative value, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-23376r419089_fix)
Configure the operating system to enforce password complexity by requiring that at least one special character be used by setting the "ocredit" option.

Add the following line to "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" (or modify the line to have the required value):

ocredit = -1