1.287 ALMA-09-036760

Information

AlmaLinux OS 9 must require the change of at least four character classes when passwords are changed.

GROUP ID: V-269394
RULE ID: SV-269394r1050277

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.

Solution

Configure AlmaLinux OS 9 to require the change of at least four character classes when passwords are changed by setting the "minclass" option.

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

minclass = 4

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/27039