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

From Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with IA controls: IAIA-2, IAIA-1

Associated with: CCI-000189

SV-37318r1_rule The system must prevent the use of dictionary words for passwords.

Vulnerability discussion

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.

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Fix text

If /etc/pam.d/system-auth references /etc/pam.d/system-auth-ac refer to the man page for system-auth-ac for a description of how to add options not configurable with authconfig. Edit /etc/pam.d/system-auth and configure pam_cracklib by adding a line such as "password required pam_cracklib.so"

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