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PAM: Enforce a Password-Quality Policy
MediumLinux Security10-20 minThe brief
Harden password quality with pam_pwquality. The config is /etc/security/pwquality.conf (currently all defaults, commented out); your required thresholds are in /root/case/assignment.env.
Set these keys in the config:
minlen— minimum length (REQ_MINLEN)minclass— minimum character classes (REQ_MINCLASS)dcredit— minimum required digits, as a negative value (REQ_DCREDIT)
The minimum length and digit count vary per session; every assignment meets the CIS Ubuntu 22.04 Benchmark (length 14 or more, all four character classes). See /root/case/brief.txt.
What you'll do
- Configure pam_pwquality via /etc/security/pwquality.conf
- Set a minimum password length and class requirement
- Understand negative *credit values as minimum requirements
- Apply a systemwide password policy
Hands-on lab: you work on a real Linux box in your browser, graded on the machine's actual state.
