Microsoft Windows 10

The built-in Microsoft password complexity filter must be enabled

STIG ID: WN10-AC-000040 |   SRG: SRG-OS-000069-GPOS-00037 |   Severity: Medium |   CCI: CCI-000192,CCI-000193,CCI-000194,CCI-001619 |   Vulnerability ID: V-220746

Description

The use of complex passwords increases their strength against guessing and brute-force attacks. This setting configures the system to verify that newly created passwords conform to the Windows password complexity policy.

Check

C-22461r554723_chk

Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor.Run "gpedit.msc".Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy.If the value for "Password must meet complexity requirements" is not set to "Enabled", this is a finding.If the site is using a password filter that requires this setting be set to "Disabled" for the filter to be used, this would not be considered a finding.

Fix

F-22450r554724_fix

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy >> "Password must meet complexity requirements" to "Enabled".