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

RHEL 8 passwords must have a minimum of 15 characters.

DISA Rule

SV-230369r1017181_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-230369

Group Title

SRG-OS-000078-GPOS-00046

Rule Version

RHEL-08-020230

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

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

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure operating system to enforce a minimum 15-character password length.

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

minlen = 15

Remove any configurations that conflict with the above value.

Check Contents

Verify the operating system enforces a minimum 15-character password length. The "minlen" option sets the minimum number of characters in a new password.

Check for the value of the "minlen" option with the following command:

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

/etc/security/pwquality.conf:minlen = 15

If the command does not return a "minlen" value of 15 or greater, this is a finding.
If conflicting results are returned, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-230369

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-08-020230

Severity Override Guidance

Verify the operating system enforces a minimum 15-character password length. The "minlen" option sets the minimum number of characters in a new password.

Check for the value of the "minlen" option with the following command:

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

/etc/security/pwquality.conf:minlen = 15

If the command does not return a "minlen" value of 15 or greater, this is a finding.
If conflicting results are returned, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

2921