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V-219184

CAT II (Medium)

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

Rule ID

SV-219184r991587_rule

STIG

Canonical Ubuntu 18.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V2R15

CCIs

CCI-000366

Discussion

If the Ubuntu operating system allows the user to select passwords based on dictionary words, then this increases the chances of password compromise by increasing the opportunity for successful guesses and brute-force attacks.

Check Content

Verify that the Ubuntu operating system uses the cracklib library to prevent the use of dictionary words with the following command:

# grep dictcheck /etc/security/pwquality.conf

dictcheck=1

If the "dictcheck" parameter is not set to "1", or is commented out, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the Ubuntu operating system to prevent the use of dictionary words for passwords.

Add or update the following line in the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" file to include the "dictcheck=1" parameter:

dictcheck=1