5.5.1.7 Ensure password expiration is 60 Day maximum for new users

Information

The operating system must be configured so that passwords for new users are restricted to a 60-day maximum lifetime.

Any password, no matter how complex, can eventually be cracked. Therefore, passwords need to be changed periodically. If the operating system does not limit the lifetime of passwords and force users to change their passwords, there is the risk that the operating system passwords could be compromised.

Solution

Configure the operating system to enforce a 60-day maximum password lifetime restriction.

Add the following line in /etc/login.defs (or modify the line to have the required value):

PASS_MAX_DAYS 60

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/8415

Item Details

Category: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION

References: 800-53|IA-5(1), CSCv7|4.4

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: bdcea35718987fd6f68d51135c37cfc2ef4c92cb24a0da6b3ef21e9c8d2f73e5