Password System Limitations

This question is asking about the flip side of password requirements - what CAN'T users do with passwords in your system? For example, do you limit passwords to only 20 characters? Do you prohibit certain special characters? These limitations might seem minor, but they can prevent users from using their preferred secure passwords or password manager-generated credentials.

Arbitrary password limitations are red flags for security auditors. Restricting password length to something like 16 characters prevents use of passphrases, which are often more secure and memorable. Blocking special characters can break password manager compatibility and force users into weaker passwords. These limitations suggest outdated security architecture and can fail security audits. Modern systems should support passwords up to at least 128 characters with minimal character restrictions, enabling both security and usability.

The worst mistake is having undocumented limitations that users discover only when trying to set passwords. Another common issue is having different limitations between password creation and password entry fields, causing valid passwords to be rejected at login. Many systems also incorrectly limit passwords due to legacy database field sizes or fear of SQL injection instead of properly sanitizing inputs.