SV-29388r2: For systems utilizing a logon ID as the individual identifier, passwords must be a minimum of 14 characters in length. | Windows Vista Security Technical Implementation Guide

Loading benchmark…

Assessment Title

Rule Text

For systems utilizing a logon ID as the individual identifier, passwords must be a minimum of 14 characters in length.

Description

Discussion Text

Information systems not protected with strong password schemes including passwords of minimum length provide the opportunity for anyone to crack the password thus gaining access to the system and causing the device, information, or the local network to be compromised or a denial of service.

How this relates to the STIG checklist: STIG vs SCAP benchmark.

IA Controls

NIST SP 800-53

Not mappedCCI-000205CCE-2883-7

Additional Details

Potential Impacts

Strong passwords may invite users to write down the passwords. Ensure that all users store passwords in a secured location.

Third-Party Tools

Responsibility

Information Assurance Officer

References

DPMS Target Windows Vista DISA DPMS Target Windows Vista 1029

SCC Automation Reference

The reconstructed evaluation script behind this rule's OVAL check(s) — every module a compound check combines, with this rule's own concrete values and DISA's SCC tool's real per-module mechanism curated from static teardown of SCC releases.

# Windows PowerShell
# Reconstructed from oval:mil.disa.fso.windows:def:493
# For systems utilizing a logon ID as the individual identifier, passwords must be a minimum of 14 characters in length.
# Per-module read mechanism curated from static teardown of DISA's SCC tool
# (SCAP Compliance Checker) -- see the SCC Automation Reference above.

# passwordpolicy_object (passwordpolicy_test)
function test_1 {
  return (((net accounts | Select-String 'Minimum password length') -replace '[^0-9]','') -ge 14)
}

if (test_1) {
  Write-Output "PASS"
} else {
  Write-Output "FAIL"
}

Assessment Script Powered by AISyntax-verified

A standalone PowerShell script to assess this control automatically. Review before running it in your environment.

Syntax-checked as valid PowerShell. Not executed here — running it for real needs the actual windows_vista target this check assesses.

# OVAL Definition: oval:mil.disa.fso.windows:def:493
$minPasswordLength = (Get-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\' -Name 'MinimumPasswordLength').MinimumPasswordLength
if ($minPasswordLength -ge 14) { Write-Output "PASS"; exit 0 } else { Write-Output "FAIL"; exit 1 }

Remediation

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Account Policies -> Password Policy -> "Minimum password length" to at least "14" characters.