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

RHEL 8 must prevent the use of dictionary words for passwords.

DISA Rule

SV-230377r1017188_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-230377

Group Title

SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00225

Rule Version

RHEL-08-020300

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure RHEL 8 to prevent the use of dictionary words for passwords.

Add or update the following line in the "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" file or a configuration file in the /etc/pwquality.conf.d/ directory to contain the "dictcheck" parameter:

dictcheck=1

Remove any configurations that conflict with the above value.

Check Contents

Verify RHEL 8 prevents the use of dictionary words for passwords.

Determine if the field "dictcheck" is set with the following command:

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

/etc/security/pwquality.conf:dictcheck=1

If the "dictcheck" parameter is not set to "1", or is commented out, this is a finding.
If conflicting results are returned, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-230377

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-08-020300

Severity Override Guidance

Verify RHEL 8 prevents the use of dictionary words for passwords.

Determine if the field "dictcheck" is set with the following command:

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

/etc/security/pwquality.conf:dictcheck=1

If the "dictcheck" parameter is not set to "1", or is commented out, this is a finding.
If conflicting results are returned, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

2921