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

RHEL 8 systems, version 8.4 and above, must ensure the password complexity module is configured for three retries or less.

DISA Rule

SV-251716r1069329_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-251716

Group Title

SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227

Rule Version

RHEL-08-020104

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure RHEL 8 to limit the "pwquality" retry option to "3".

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

retry = 3

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Note: This requirement applies to RHEL versions 8.4 or newer. If the system is RHEL below version 8.4, this requirement is not applicable.

Verify RHEL 8 is configured to limit the "pwquality" retry option to "3".

Check for the use of the retry option in the security directory with the following command:

$ grep -w retry /etc/security/pwquality.conf /etc/security/pwquality.conf.d/*.conf

retry = 3

If the value of "retry" is set to "0" or greater than "3", or is missing, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-251716

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-08-020104

Severity Override Guidance

Note: This requirement applies to RHEL versions 8.4 or newer. If the system is RHEL below version 8.4, this requirement is not applicable.

Verify RHEL 8 is configured to limit the "pwquality" retry option to "3".

Check for the use of the retry option in the security directory with the following command:

$ grep -w retry /etc/security/pwquality.conf /etc/security/pwquality.conf.d/*.conf

retry = 3

If the value of "retry" is set to "0" or greater than "3", or is missing, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

2921