SLES-12-010280 - The SUSE operating system must be configured to create or update passwords with a maximum lifetime of 60 days.

Information

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

Solution

Configure the SUSE operating system to enforce a maximum password age of 60 days or less.

Edit the file '/etc/login.defs' and add or correct the following line. Replace [DAYS] with the appropriate amount of days:

PASS_MAX_DAYS [DAYS]

The DoD requirement is 60 days or less (greater than zero, as zero days will lock the account immediately).

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_SLES_12_V2R13_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION

References: 800-53|IA-5(1)(d), CAT|II, CCI|CCI-000199, Rule-ID|SV-217130r646701_rule, STIG-ID|SLES-12-010280, STIG-Legacy|SV-91811, STIG-Legacy|V-77115, Vuln-ID|V-217130

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 17833ae8a5db8199f60f11e86284d1686e15b916a9b57821eab7fa0fa9ea6cdc