XK0-006 Security Practice Question
A system administrator wants to enforce a password policy requiring a minimum length of 12 characters, at least one uppercase letter, and one digit. Which PAM module should be configured?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse pam_unix (which handles authentication and password aging) with pam_pwquality (which enforces complexity), because both are commonly used together in password policies but serve distinct roles.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
pam_pwquality
pam_pwquality is the correct PAM module because it is specifically designed to enforce password complexity requirements, such as minimum length, uppercase letters, and digits, through configurable parameters like minlen, ucredit, and dcredit. It replaces the older pam_cracklib and is the standard module for password quality checks on modern Linux systems.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
pam_pwquality
Why this is correct
pam_pwquality enforces length, character-class and complexity checks through its minlen, ucredit and dcredit parameters, directly satisfying the 12-character minimum plus uppercase and digit requirements. It supersedes the older pam_cracklib module and integrates with the password stack.
- ✗
pam_unix
Why it's wrong here
pam_unix handles standard password authentication and shadow file updates but delegates complexity checking to pam_pwquality or pam_cracklib. It is the correct module for basic Unix password verification, not for imposing minimum length and character-class rules.
- ✗
pam_faillock
Why it's wrong here
pam_faillock locks accounts after repeated authentication failures; it counts failed attempts and does not inspect password composition. It is the right module when the requirement is account lockout after brute-force attempts, not enforcing length, uppercase or digit rules at password change.
- ✗
pam_tally2
Why it's wrong here
pam_tally2 counts failed login attempts and can lock accounts, similar to pam_faillock, but it does not evaluate password strength. It is the right choice for throttling brute-force authentication attempts, not for requiring 12 characters with uppercase and digits.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Managing Storage and File Systems
Key term
Linux
Linux is an open-source operating system that manages computer hardware and software, widely used in servers, desktops, and embedded systems.
Key term
Policy
A policy is a set of rules or guidelines that defines how an organization manages, secures, and operates its IT systems and services.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This XK0-006 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the XK0-006 exam.