If multifactor authentication is not supported and passwords must be used, the CA API Gateway must require that when a password is changed, the characters are changed in at least 8 of the positions within the password.

From CA API Gateway NDM Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-000195

SV-86157r1_rule If multifactor authentication is not supported and passwords must be used, the CA API Gateway must require that when a password is changed, the characters are changed in at least 8 of the positions within the password.

Vulnerability discussion

If the application allows the user to consecutively reuse extensive portions of passwords, this increases the chances of password compromise by increasing the window of opportunity for attempts at guessing and brute-force attacks.The number of changed characters refers to the number of changes required with respect to the total number of positions in the current password. In other words, characters may be the same within the two passwords; however, the positions of the like characters must be different.

Check content

Verify the password attribute "difok" field is set to "8" in the following files: -- /etc/pam.d/password-auth -- /etc/pam.d/password-auth-ac If the password attribute "difok" field is not set to "8" in these files, this is a finding.

Fix text

Set the password attribute "difok" field is set to "8" in the following files: -- /etc/pam.d/password-auth -- /etc/pam.d/password-auth-ac

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