The system must require at least eight characters be changed between the old and new passwords during a password change.

From Oracle Linux 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Part of GEN000750

Associated with: CCI-000195

SV-64283r2_rule The system must require at least eight characters be changed between the old and new passwords during a password change.

Vulnerability discussion

To ensure password changes are effective in their goals, the system must ensure that old and new passwords have significant differences. Without significant changes, new passwords may be easily guessed based on the value of a previously compromised password.

Check content

Check /etc/pam.d/system-auth for a pam_cracklib parameter difok. Procedure: # grep difok /etc/pam.d/system-auth If difok is not present, or has a value less than 8, this is a finding. Check for system-auth-ac inclusions. # grep -c system-auth-ac /etc/pam.d/* If the system-auth-ac file is included anywhere # more /etc/pam.d/system-auth-ac | grep difok If system-auth-ac is included anywhere and difok is not present, or has a value less than 8, this is a finding. Ensure the passwd command uses the system-auth settings. # grep system-auth /etc/pam.d/passwd If a line "password include system-auth" is not found then the password checks in system-auth will not be applied to new passwords.

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 add or edit a pam_cracklib entry with a difok parameter set equal to or greater than 8.

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