4.1 Ensure 'MUST_CHANGE' Option is set to 'ON' for All SQL Authenticated Logins

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Information

Whenever this option is set to ON SQL Server will prompt for an updated password the first time the new or altered login is used.

Enforcing a password change after a reset or new login creation will prevent the account administrators or anyone accessing the initial password from misuse of the SQL login created without being noticed.

NOTE: Nessus has not performed this check. Please review the benchmark to ensure target compliance.

Solution

Set the MUST_CHANGE option for SQL Authenticated logins when creating a login initially:

CREATE LOGIN <login_name> WITH PASSWORD = '<password_value>' MUST_CHANGE, CHECK_EXPIRATION = ON, CHECK_POLICY = ON;

Set the MUST_CHANGE option for SQL Authenticated logins when resetting a password:

ALTER LOGIN <login_name> WITH PASSWORD = '<new_password_value>' MUST_CHANGE;

Impact:

CHECK_EXPIRATION and CHECK_POLICY options must both be ON End users must have the means (application) to change the password when forced.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/14058