Question

Enforcing Windows password policy on SQL accounts

Asked by: joshsfinn

I have created several SQL accounts on a SQL 2005 server, enforcing password policy, but not enforcing password expiration or "user must change password at next login."
I did not encounter any errors when setting up these accounts.  However, the accounts lock when trying to use these accounts to make connections against the databases.
When I unlock the SQL account and hit ok, I get the following error:
Password validation failed.  The password does not meet Windows policy requirements because it is not complex enough.  (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 15118)

In Active Directory Group Policy our password policy is set as follows:
Enforce password history:  10 passwords remembered
Maximum password age:  90 days
Minimum password age:  7 days
Minimum password length:  8 characters
Password must meet complexity requirements:  Enabled
Store password using reversible encrption for all users on the domain:  Disabled

The same settings are in place on the SQL server's local security settings.

For one SQL account I created, the password was 9 characters long, and contained symbols, numbers, and lower-case letters.  The other account was 10 characters long, and contained upper-case letters, lower-case letters, and numbers.
Both passwords meet the password policy defined, and meet Microsoft's password complexity rules.

Can someone explain what I might be doing wrong, or what I'm missing?
Thanks

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Answers

 

by: KCTSPosted on 2008-01-17 at 07:52:42ID: 20682429

Try creating a password that is
8 or more characters long
Contains an UPPER CASE letter
Contains a LOWER case letter
Comtains a NUMBER 0-9
Contains a symbol eg @, #, % or !

 

by: joshsfinnPosted on 2008-01-17 at 08:03:20ID: 20682509

Microsoft's password complexity requires only 3 of the 4 conditions be met. (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/821425) My own AD account, which is subject to the same password policy, has never contained a symbol, and has never had an issue.
This makes me think the issue is with the SQL applicaiton, not the password.

 

by: KCTSPosted on 2008-01-17 at 08:13:36ID: 20682625

Humour me - try it.

 

by: joshsfinnPosted on 2008-01-17 at 08:21:13ID: 20682710

Same error.  I set the password of one of the accounts, meeting all 4 requirements , but when I went back in to check, the account it was locked.  
The password is 10 characters, includes a symbol, 6 lower-case letters, 2 numbers, and one upper-case letter.

 

by: joshsfinnPosted on 2008-01-17 at 12:53:19ID: 20685276

Ended up opening a case with Microsoft.  This is a bug with SP2, and is supposed to be fixed in SP3.
The "password complexity" error only occurs once an account gets locked.  The error does not appear when creating the account and setting the password.
The work-around for now, when an account is locked, is to uncheck the "enforce password policy" checkbox and hit ok. Go back in to the account and it should no longer be locked.  You can then reapply the password policy enforcement.

 

by: Vee_ModPosted on 2008-02-14 at 16:13:18ID: 20898354

Closed, 500 points refunded.
Vee_Mod
Community Support Moderator

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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