If the dictionary is made of random words, cracklib-check in many cases doesn't recognize more than half of the input words:

for i in `seq 1 34`; do
    echo -n > wordlist
    for j in `seq 1 20`; do
        tr -cd '[:alpha:]' < /dev/urandom | dd bs=1 count=$i 2>/dev/null >> wordlist
        echo >> wordlist
    done
    create-cracklib-dict wordlist > /dev/null
    cracklib-check < wordlist | grep ': OK' | wc -l
done


Actual results:
0
0
0
0
0
11
12
14
12
12
9
12
11
14
11
9
17
14
10
13
10
12
11
12
16
11
8
16
11
11
10
7
7
20

Expected results:
all 0

Words with punctuation are now ignored:

cracklib-2.9.0-5.el7.x86_64

[root@rhel7-64 test]# create-cracklib-dict /usr/share/dict/words
454695 454695
[root@rhel7-64 test]# cat /usr/share/dict/words | cracklib-check | grep ': OK'
2,4,5-t: OK
Aaron's-beard: OK
Adam's-needle: OK
adder's-grass: OK
adder's-meat: OK
adder's-mouth: OK
adder's-mouths: OK
adder's-tongue: OK
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence: OK
A.M.D.G.: OK
angel's-trumpet: OK
A.R.C.S.: OK
A.W.O.L.: OK
babies'-breath: OK
baby's-breath: OK
baby's-slippers: OK
bachelor's-button: OK
bachelor's-buttons: OK
bats-in-the-belfry: OK
bear's-breech: OK
bear's-ear: OK
bear's-foot: OK
bear's-foots: OK
bear's-paw: OK
beggar's-lice: OK
beggar's-tick: OK
beggar's-ticks: OK
bicycle-built-for-two: OK
bird-in-the-bush: OK
bird's-eye: OK
bird's-eyes: OK
bird's-foot: OK
bird's-foots: OK
birds-in-the-bush: OK
bird's-nest: OK
bishop's-cap: OK
bishop's-weed: OK
blind-man's-buff: OK
blown-in-the-bottle: OK
bras-dessus-bras-dessous: OK
B.R.C.S.: OK
bred-in-the-bone: OK
buck's-horn: OK
bullock's-heart: OK
bull's-eye: OK
bull's-eyed: OK
bull's-eyes: OK
butcher's-broom: OK
ca'ing-whale: OK
calf's-foot: OK
camel's-hair: OK
catch-as-catch-can: OK
ca'-thro': OK
cat-o'-mountain: OK
cat-o'-nine-tails: OK
cat-o-nine-tails: OK
cat's-claw: OK
cat's-cradle: OK
cat's-ear: OK
cat's-eye: OK
cat's-eyes: OK
cat's-feet: OK
cat's-foot: OK
cat's-head: OK
cat's-paw: OK
cat's-tail: OK
chef-d': OK
chef-d'oeuvre: OK
chefs-d'oeuvre: OK
Ching-t'u: OK
Ch'ing-yan: OK
Christ's-thorn: OK
christ's-thorn: OK
chuck-will's-widow: OK
cock-a-doodle-doo: OK
cock-a-doodle--dooed: OK
cock-a-doodle--dooing: OK
cock-a-doodle-doos: OK
cock-and-bull-story: OK
cock-of-the-rock: OK
cock's-comb: OK
cock's-foot: OK
cock's-head: OK
cocks-of-the-rock: OK
colt's-tail: OK
cooper's-wood: OK
crane's-bill: OK
crow's-feet: OK
crow's-foot: OK
crow's-nest: OK
cupid's-bow: OK
Cupid's-dart: OK
dai-sho-no-soroimono: OK
dame's-violet: OK
danes'-blood: OK
day's-work: OK
death's-face: OK
death's-head: OK
death's-herb: OK
deer's-tongue: OK
devil-in-the-bush: OK
devil's-bit: OK
devil's-bones: OK
devil's-ivy: OK
devil's-pincushion: OK
devil's-tongue: OK
devil's-walking-stick: OK
dhu'l-hijja: OK
dhu'l-qa'dah: OK
dog-in-the-manger: OK
dog's-bane: OK
dog's-ear: OK
dog's-eared: OK
dog's-meat: OK
dog's-tail: OK
dog's-tongue: OK
dog's-tooth: OK
down-at-the-heel: OK
down-at-the-heels: OK
down-in-the-mouth: OK
dragon's-tongue: OK
Dutchman's-breeches: OK
Dutchman's-pipe: OK
dyed-in-the-wool: OK
dyer's-broom: OK
dyer's-greenweed: OK
dyer's-weed: OK
elephant's-ear: OK
elephant's-foot: OK
elephant's-foots: OK
first-past-the-post: OK
flame-of-the-forest: OK
flame-of-the-woods: OK
flames-of-the-woods: OK
flower-of-an-hour: OK
fo'c's'le: OK
fool's-cap: OK
fool's-parsley: OK
fore-and-aft-rigged: OK
four-o'clock: OK
frog's-bit: OK
get-up-and-get: OK
get-up-and-go: OK
gill-over-the-ground: OK
glory-of-the-snow: OK
glory-of-the-snows: OK
glory-of-the-sun: OK
glory-of-the-suns: OK
go-as-you-please: OK
goat's-beard: OK
goat's-rue: OK
god's-penny: OK
hail-fellow-well-met: OK
hair's-breadth: OK
hallow-e'en: OK
hand's-breadth: OK
hare's-ear: OK
hare's-foot: OK
hart's-tongue: OK
hawk's-beard: OK
hawk's-bell: OK
hawk's-bill: OK
hawk's-eye: OK
heart's-ease: OK
hen's-foot: OK
Hercules'-club: OK
hercules'-club: OK
herd's-grass: OK
heron's-bill: OK
hide-and-go-seek: OK
high-muck-a-muck: OK
hog's-back: OK
hop-o'-my-thumb: OK
hop-o-my-thumb: OK
hound's-tongue: OK
hound's-tooth: OK
how-do-ye-do: OK
how-do-you-do: OK
how-d'ye-do: OK
huntsman's-cup: OK
hunt's-up: OK
inter-'varsity: OK
Ithuriel's-spear: OK
jack-at-a-pinch: OK
jack-by-the-hedge: OK
Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon: OK
jack-in-a-box: OK
jack-in-a-boxes: OK
jack-in-the-box: OK
jack-in-the-boxes: OK
jack-in-the-green: OK
jack-in-the-pulpit: OK
jack-in-the-pulpits: OK
jack-of-all-trades: OK
jack-o'-lantern: OK
jacks-of-all-trades: OK
Jacob's-ladder: OK
jaw's-harp: OK
jew's-ear: OK
jew's-harp: OK
Job's-tears: OK
Johnny-on-the-spot: OK
johnny-on-the-spot: OK
Josephine's-lily: OK
Joseph's-coat: OK
Jupiter's-beard: OK
K'ang-te: OK
K.C.M.G.: OK
K.C.V.O.: OK
king-of-the-herrings: OK
king-of-the-salmon: OK
knight's-spur: OK
knock-down-and-drag: OK
knock-down-and-drag-out: OK
knock-down-drag-out: OK
ladies-of-the-night: OK
ladies'-tobacco: OK
ladies'-tobaccoes: OK
ladies'-tobaccos: OK
lady-of-the-night: OK
lady's-eardrop: OK
lady's-mantle: OK
lady's-slipper: OK
lady's-smock: OK
lady's-thistle: OK
lady's-thumb: OK
lady's-tresses: OK
lamb's-quarters: OK
lamb's-wool: OK
leg-o'-mutton: OK
leopard's-bane: OK
light-o'-love: OK
light-o'love: OK
lizard's-tail: OK
love-in-a-mist: OK
maiden's-tears: OK
maiden's-wreath: OK
maiden's-wreaths: OK
man-of-the-earths: OK
man-o'-war: OK
mare's-nest: OK
mare's-tail: OK
men-of-the-earth: OK
Mentor-on-the-Lake-Village: OK
middle-of-the-road: OK
middle-of-the-roader: OK
miller's-thumb: OK
mind-your-own-business: OK
money's-worth: OK
monk's-hood: OK
ne'er-dos: OK
ne'er-do-well: OK
Nero's-crown: OK
never-to-be-equaled: OK
nievie-nievie-nick-nack: OK
no-deposit-no-return: OK
no-man's-land: OK
nor'-west: OK
nor'-wester: OK
old-man's-beard: OK
on-again-off-again: OK
one-and-a-half: OK
out-of-the-common: OK
out-of-the-way: OK
out-of-the-world: OK
owl's-crown: OK
parrot's-bill: OK
parrot's-feather: OK
pay-as-you-go: OK
P'eng-hu: OK
pheasant's-eye: OK
pheasant's-eyes: OK
pigeon's-neck: OK
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis: OK
prince's-feather: OK
prince's-pine: OK
queen-of-the-meadow: OK
queen-of-the-prairie: OK
Queen's-flower: OK
rabbit's-foot: OK
ram's-horn: OK
rat's-tail: OK
R.C.A.F.: OK
R.C.M.P.: OK
R.I.B.A.: OK
rock-'n'-roll: OK
roll-on/roll-off: OK
R.S.V.P.: OK
run-of-the-mill: OK
run-of-the-mine: OK
sailor's-choice: OK
saint-john's-wort: OK
Saint-Maur-des-Foss: OK
sea-otter's-cabbage: OK
sheep's-bit: OK
shepherd's-purse: OK
shepherd's-scabious: OK
shoot-'em-up: OK
shove-ha'penny: OK
snake's-head: OK
snow-on-the-mountain: OK
sou'-west: OK
spur-off-the-moment: OK
spur-of-the-moment: OK
squirrel's-ear: OK
state-of-the-art: OK
stick-at-it-ive: OK
stick-in-the-mud: OK
stick-to-it-iveness: OK
stork's-bill: OK
straight-from-the-shoulder: OK
straight-up-and-down: OK
Sunday-go-to-meeting: OK
sunday-go-to-meeting: OK
Sunday-go-to-meetings: OK
swan's-down: OK
tailor's-tack: OK
tam-o'-shanter: OK
tam-o'shanter: OK
thank-you-ma'am: OK
theater-in-the-round: OK
theatre-in-the-round: OK
three-and-a-halfpenny: OK
tiger's-eye: OK
Tir-na-n'Og: OK
tishah-b'ab: OK
toad-in-the-hole: OK
toad's-mouth: OK
tol-lol-de-rol: OK
Tom-come-tickle-me: OK
toper's-plant: OK
touch-me-not-ish: OK
traveler's-joy: OK
traveler's-tree: OK
trick-o-the-loop: OK
Turk's-head: OK
'tween-decks: OK
twelve-o'clock: OK
two-for-a-cent: OK
two-for-a-penny: OK
un-come-at-able: OK
un-come-at-ableness: OK
un-come-at-ably: OK
un-get-at-able: OK
un-get-at-ableness: OK
up-to-the-minute: OK
Val-d'Oise: OK
va-t'-en: OK
Venus's-flytrap: OK
venus's-flytrap: OK
Venus's-girdle: OK
Venus's-hair: OK
virgin's-bower: OK
wag-on-the-wall: OK
W.C.T.U.: OK
what-do-you-call-it: OK
what-d'ye-call-'em: OK
what-d'ye-call-it: OK
what-d'you-call-it: OK
what's-her-name: OK
what's-his-face: OK
what's-his-name: OK
what's-its-name: OK
what-you-call-it: OK
what-you-may-call-'em: OK
what-you-may--call-it: OK
widow's-cross: OK
will-o'-the-wisp: OK
will-o-the-wisp: OK
willo'-the-wispish: OK
willo'-the-wispy: OK
will-with-the-wisp: OK
witches'-besom: OK
witches'-broom: OK
wolf's-bane: OK
wolf's-head: OK
Wu-lu-mu-ch'i: OK
Y.M.C.A.: OK
Y.M.H.A.: OK
Y.W.C.A.: OK
Y.W.H.A.: OK

That's actually problem in cracklib-format script as called by create-cracklib-dict. The punctuation is removed from the created dictionary, but we do not ignore all punctuation now when checking for the dictionary match. (bug 985378)

I'll change the cracklib-format script and eagerly await what regresses next. :)

yes, I meant ignored by create-cracklib-dict, not by cracklib-check

This request was resolved in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.0.

Contact your manager or support representative in case you have further questions about the request.