STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 9 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

RHEL 9 must enforce password complexity rules for the root account.

DISA Rule

SV-258101r1045204_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258101

Group Title

SRG-OS-000072-GPOS-00040

Rule Version

RHEL-09-611060

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

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

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure RHEL 9 to enforce password complexity on the root account.

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

enforce_for_root

Check Contents

Verify that RHEL 9 enforces password complexity rules for the root account.

Check if root user is required to use complex passwords with the following command:

$ grep enforce_for_root /etc/security/pwquality.conf /etc/security/pwquality.conf.d/*.conf

/etc/security/pwquality.conf:enforce_for_root

If "enforce_for_root" is commented or missing, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-258101

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-09-611060

Severity Override Guidance

Verify that RHEL 9 enforces password complexity rules for the root account.

Check if root user is required to use complex passwords with the following command:

$ grep enforce_for_root /etc/security/pwquality.conf /etc/security/pwquality.conf.d/*.conf

/etc/security/pwquality.conf:enforce_for_root

If "enforce_for_root" is commented or missing, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5551