STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 8 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

RHEL 8 must require the change of at least 8 characters when passwords are changed.

DISA Rule

SV-230363r1017175_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-230363

Group Title

SRG-OS-000072-GPOS-00040

Rule Version

RHEL-08-020170

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-004066 - For password-based authentication, enforce organization-defined composition and complexity rules.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure the operating system to require the change of at least eight of the total number of characters when passwords are changed by setting the "difok" option.

Add the following line to "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" (or modify the line to have the required value):

difok = 8

Remove any configurations that conflict with the above value.

Check Contents

Verify the value of the "difok" option with the following command:

$ sudo grep -r difok /etc/security/pwquality.conf*

/etc/security/pwquality.conf:difok = 8

If the value of "difok" is set to less than "8" or is commented out, this is a finding.
If conflicting results are returned, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-230363

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-08-020170

Severity Override Guidance

Verify the value of the "difok" option with the following command:

$ sudo grep -r difok /etc/security/pwquality.conf*

/etc/security/pwquality.conf:difok = 8

If the value of "difok" is set to less than "8" or is commented out, this is a finding.
If conflicting results are returned, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

2921