Ubuntu 24.04 LTS must enforce a minimum 15-character password length.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-270732 | UBTU-24-400320 | SV-270732r1066685_rule | Medium |
| Description |
| The shorter the password, the lower the number of possible combinations that need to be tested before the password is compromised. Password complexity, or strength, is a measure of the effectiveness of a password in resisting attempts at guessing and brute-force attacks. Password length is one factor of several that helps to determine strength and how long it takes to crack a password. Use of more characters in a password helps to exponentially increase the time and/or resources required to compromise the password. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000078-GPOS-00046, SRG-OS-000730-GPOS-00190 |
| STIG | Date |
| Canonical Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-16 |
Details
| Check Text (C-74765r1066683_chk) |
| Verify the pwquality configuration file enforces a minimum 15-character password length with the following command: $ grep -i minlen /etc/security/pwquality.conf minlen=15 If "minlen" parameter value is not "15" or higher, is commented out, or is missing, this is a finding. |
| Fix Text (F-74666r1066684_fix) |
| Configure Ubuntu 24.04 LTS to enforce a minimum 15-character password length. Add or modify the "minlen" parameter value to the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" file: minlen=15 |