ALMA-09-038080 - Passwords for new users or password changes must have a 60-day maximum password lifetime restriction in /etc/login.defs.

Information

Any password, no matter how complex, can eventually be cracked. Therefore, passwords must 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 AlmaLinux OS 9 to enforce a 60-day maximum password lifetime.

Modify the "/etc/login.defs" file to set the "PASS_MAX_DAYS" parameter to 60 or greater:

PASS_MAX_DAYS 60

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_CL_AlmaLinux_OS_9_V1R3_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION

References: 800-53|IA-5(1)(d), CAT|II, CCI|CCI-000199, Rule-ID|SV-269406r1050619_rule, STIG-ID|ALMA-09-038080, Vuln-ID|V-269406

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 5a145a488dd11e698e041d48c4e9393dab531dfaa25a0ea5a22ffb67ed00ce4f