STIGQter: STIG Summary: Amazon Linux 2023 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 4 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

Amazon Linux 2023 must enforce password complexity by requiring that at least one special character be used.

DISA Rule

SV-274138r1120402_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-274138

Group Title

SRG-OS-000266-GPOS-00101

Rule Version

AZLX-23-002380

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-004066 - For password-based authentication, enforce organization-defined composition and complexity rules.
• CCI-004064 - For password-based authentication, allow user selection of long passwords and passphrases, including spaces and all printable characters.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure Amazon Linux 2023 to enforce password complexity by requiring at least one special character be used by setting the "ocredit" option.

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 "ocredit" parameter:

ocredit = -1

Check Contents

Verify Amazon Linux 2023 enforces password complexity by requiring at least one special character with the following command:

$ sudo grep -rs ocredit /etc/security/pwquality.conf /etc/security/pwquality.conf.d/*.conf
/etc/security/pwquality.conf: ocredit = -1

If the value of "ocredit" is a positive number or is commented out, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-274138

Documentable

False

Rule Version

AZLX-23-002380

Severity Override Guidance

Verify Amazon Linux 2023 enforces password complexity by requiring at least one special character with the following command:

$ sudo grep -rs ocredit /etc/security/pwquality.conf /etc/security/pwquality.conf.d/*.conf
/etc/security/pwquality.conf: ocredit = -1

If the value of "ocredit" is a positive number or is commented out, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5700