LPIC-2 System Security Practice Question
Which three PAM modules can be used to enforce password complexity? (Select three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse pam_unix.so (which handles authentication and password aging) with a password complexity module, but it does not enforce complexity rules itself; the correct modules are the dedicated quality-checking ones (pam_passwdqc.so, pam_pwquality.so, pam_cracklib.so).
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_passwdqc.so
pam_passwdqc.so, pam_pwquality.so, and pam_cracklib.so are all PAM modules specifically designed to enforce password complexity policies, such as requiring a mix of character types, minimum length, or rejecting weak passwords. pam_passwdqc.so uses a configurable password quality checking framework, pam_pwquality.so (the successor to pam_cracklib.so) provides similar checks via the libpwquality library, and pam_cracklib.so (the original module) performs dictionary checks and complexity rules. These modules are typically stacked in the password authentication stack to validate new passwords against defined policies.
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_securetty.so
Why it's wrong here
This module restricts root login to secure TTYs only.
- ✓
pam_passwdqc.so
Why this is correct
This module enforces password quality and complexity.
- ✗
pam_unix.so
Why it's wrong here
pam_unix handles authentication but does not enforce complexity.
- ✓
pam_pwquality.so
Why this is correct
This is the successor to pam_cracklib and enforces complexity.
- ✓
pam_cracklib.so
Why this is correct
This module checks password strength against dictionary and complexity rules.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This LPIC-2 practice question is part of Courseiva's free LPI 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 LPIC-2 exam.