STIGQter: STIG Summary: Nutanix Acropolis GPOS Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 1 Benchmark Date: 26 Jan 2026:

Nutanix OS must enforce password complexity by requiring that at least one uppercase character be used.

DISA Rule

SV-279605r1192605_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-279605

Group Title

SRG-OS-000069-GPOS-00037

Rule Version

NXAC-OS-000162

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

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

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure Nutanix OS to use complex passwords.

1. For AOS, enter the following command.

$ sudo salt-call state.sls security/CVM/pamCVM.sls

2. For Prism Central, enter the following command.

$ sudo salt-call state.sls security/PCVM/pamPCVM.sls

3. For Files, enter the following command.

$ sudo salt-call state.sls security/AFS/pamAFS.sls

4. For AHV OS CVM, enter the following command.

$ ncli cluster edit-hypervisor-security-params enable-high-strength-password=true

Check Contents

1. Verify Nutanix OS uses "pwquality" to enforce password complexity rules using the following command.

$ sudo cat /etc/pam.d/password-auth | grep pam_pwquality
password requisite pam_pwquality.so try_first_pass …

If the command does not return a line containing the value "pam_pwquality.so" as shown, or the line is commented out, this is a finding.

2. Verify Nutanix AOS is configured to require complex passwords. Note: The value to require a number of uppercase characters to be set is expressed as a negative number in "/etc/security/pwquality.conf".

3. Check the value for "ucredit" in "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" using the following command.

$ sudo grep ucredit /etc/security/pwquality.conf
ucredit = -1

If the value of "ucredit" is not set to a negative value, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-279605

Documentable

False

Rule Version

NXAC-OS-000162

Severity Override Guidance

1. Verify Nutanix OS uses "pwquality" to enforce password complexity rules using the following command.

$ sudo cat /etc/pam.d/password-auth | grep pam_pwquality
password requisite pam_pwquality.so try_first_pass …

If the command does not return a line containing the value "pam_pwquality.so" as shown, or the line is commented out, this is a finding.

2. Verify Nutanix AOS is configured to require complex passwords. Note: The value to require a number of uppercase characters to be set is expressed as a negative number in "/etc/security/pwquality.conf".

3. Check the value for "ucredit" in "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" using the following command.

$ sudo grep ucredit /etc/security/pwquality.conf
ucredit = -1

If the value of "ucredit" is not set to a negative value, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5730