STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 3 Release: 3 Benchmark Date: 23 Apr 2021:

The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system must be configured so that when passwords are changed a minimum of eight of the total number of characters must be changed.

DISA Rule

SV-204411r603261_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-204411

Group Title

SRG-OS-000072-GPOS-00040

Rule Version

RHEL-07-010160

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-000195 - The information system, for password-based authentication, when new passwords are created, enforces that at least an organization-defined number of characters are changed.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure the operating system to require the change of at least eight of the total number of characters when passwords are changed by setting the "difok" option.

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

difok = 8

Check Contents

The "difok" option sets the number of characters in a password that must not be present in the old password.

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

# grep difok /etc/security/pwquality.conf
difok = 8

If the value of "difok" is set to less than "8", this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-204411

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-07-010160

Severity Override Guidance

The "difok" option sets the number of characters in a password that must not be present in the old password.

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

# grep difok /etc/security/pwquality.conf
difok = 8

If the value of "difok" is set to less than "8", this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

2899

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