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

RHEL 10 must enforce password complexity rules for the "root" account.

DISA Rule

SV-281193r1166531_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-281193

Group Title

SRG-OS-000072-GPOS-00040

Rule Version

RHEL-10-600405

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 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 RHEL 10 enforces password complexity rules for the "root" account.

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

$ sudo 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 out or is missing, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-281193

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-10-600405

Severity Override Guidance

Verify RHEL 10 enforces password complexity rules for the "root" account.

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

$ sudo 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 out or is missing, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5733