STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 2 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

RHEL 10 must require that the maximum number of repeating characters be limited to three when passwords are changed.

DISA Rule

SV-281188r1195439_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-281188

Group Title

SRG-OS-000072-GPOS-00040

Rule Version

RHEL-10-600290

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

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

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure RHEL 10 to require the change of the number of repeating consecutive characters when passwords are changed by setting the "maxrepeat" 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 "maxrepeat" parameter:

maxrepeat = 3

Check Contents

Verify RHEL 10 limits the value of the "maxrepeat" option in "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" with the following command:

$ sudo grep -s maxrepeat /etc/security/pwquality.conf /etc/security/pwquality.conf.d/*.conf
/etc/security/pwquality.conf:maxrepeat = 3

If the value of "maxrepeat" is set to more than "3" or is commented out, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-281188

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-10-600290

Severity Override Guidance

Verify RHEL 10 limits the value of the "maxrepeat" option in "/etc/security/pwquality.conf" with the following command:

$ sudo grep -s maxrepeat /etc/security/pwquality.conf /etc/security/pwquality.conf.d/*.conf
/etc/security/pwquality.conf:maxrepeat = 3

If the value of "maxrepeat" is set to more than "3" or is commented out, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5733