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

RHEL 9 passwords must be created with a minimum of 15 characters.

DISA Rule

SV-258107r1045218_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258107

Group Title

SRG-OS-000078-GPOS-00046

Rule Version

RHEL-09-611090

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 a minimum 15-character password length.

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 "minlen" parameter:

minlen = 15

Check Contents

Verify that RHEL 9 enforces a minimum 15-character password length with the following command:

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

minlen = 15

If the command does not return a "minlen" value of "15" or greater, does not return a line, or the line is commented out, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-258107

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-09-611090

Severity Override Guidance

Verify that RHEL 9 enforces a minimum 15-character password length with the following command:

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

minlen = 15

If the command does not return a "minlen" value of "15" or greater, does not return a line, or the line is commented out, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5551