cis-gcp-cos-5-2-1

name	cis-gcp-cos-5.2.1
description	Ensure password creation requirements are configured
category	cis-gcp-cos
version	1.2.0
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["cis","gcp","container-optimized-os","pam","password-policy","password-complexity"]
cis_id	5.2.1
cis_benchmark	CIS Google Container-Optimized OS Benchmark v1.2.0
tech_stack	["gcp","linux"]
cwe_ids	[]
chains_with	[]
prerequisites	[]
severity_boost	{}

5.2.1 Ensure password creation requirements are configured (Automated)

Description

The pam_passwdqc.so module checks the strength of passwords. It performs checks such as making sure a password is not a dictionary word, it is a certain length, contains a mix of characters (e.g. alphabet, numeric, other) and more based on the following options set in the /etc/security/passwdqc.conf:

• min=disabled,disabled,disabled,disabled,14 - The password must be 14 characters or more and consists of four character classes.
• max=40 - The maximum allowed password length is 40.
• passphrase=3 - The number of words required for a passphrase is at least 3.
• match=4 - The length of common substring required to conclude that a password is at least partially based on information found in a character string is 4.
• similar=deny - The password that is similar to the old one is going to be denied.
• random=47 - The size of randomly-generated passphrases in bits is 47.
• enforce=everyone - Warn everyone for weak passwords.
• retry=3 - Let the user provide a password 3 times if the user fails to provide a sufficiently strong password and enter it twice the first time.

For more details, refer to pam_passwdqc module documentation. The settings shown above are one possible policy. Alter these values to conform to your own organization's password policies.

Rationale

Strong passwords protect systems from being hacked through brute force methods.

Audit Procedure

Verify password creation requirements conform to organization policy in /etc/security/passwdqc.conf with the following command.

# cat /etc/security/passwdqc.conf

min=disabled,disabled,disabled,disabled,14
max=40
passphrase=3
match=4
similar=deny
random=47
enforce=everyone
retry=3

Run the following command and verify that the output is similar to:

grep  pam_passwdqc.so /etc/pam.d/system-auth
password       required       pam_passwdqc.so config=/etc/security/passwdqc.conf

Expected Result

The /etc/security/passwdqc.conf file should contain password complexity settings conforming to site policy. The pam_passwdqc.so module should be configured in /etc/pam.d/system-auth.

Remediation