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The system must prevent the use of dictionary words for passwords.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-22307 GEN000790 SV-44883r1_rule Medium
Description
An easily guessable password provides an open door to any external or internal malicious intruder. Many computer compromises occur as the result of account name and password guessing. This is generally done by someone with an automated script that uses repeated logon attempts until the correct account and password pair is guessed. Utilities, such as cracklib, can be used to validate passwords are not dictionary words and meet other criteria during password changes.
STIG Date
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server v11 for System z Security Technical Implementation Guide 2018-09-19

Details

Check Text ( C-42337r1_chk )
Check /etc/pam.d/common-password for pam_cracklib configuration.
# grep pam_cracklib /etc/pam.d/common-password*
If pam_cracklib is not present, this is a finding.



Ensure the passwd command uses the common-password settings.
# grep common-password /etc/pam.d/passwd

If a line "password include common-password" is not found then the password checks in common-password will not be applied to new passwords, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-38315r1_fix)
Edit /etc/pam.d/common-password and configure pam_cracklib by adding a line such as "password required pam_cracklib.so"