# Cis GCP Cos 5.3.1.4

> Ensure inactive password lock is 30 days or less

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-gcp-cos-5-3-1-4` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-gcp-cos-5-3-1-4`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-gcp-cos-5-3-1-4/raw
- Safety review: PASS (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector CAUTION)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: DevOps & Infra
- Author: cyberstrikeus (https://skillmd.com/u/cyberstrikeus)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-gcp-cos-5-3-1-4

---


# 5.3.1.4 Ensure inactive password lock is 30 days or less (Automated)

## Description

User accounts that have been inactive for over a given period of time can be automatically disabled. It is recommended that accounts that are inactive for 30 days after password expiration be disabled.

## Rationale

Inactive accounts pose a threat to system security since the users are not logging in to notice failed login attempts or other anomalies.

## Audit Procedure

Run the following command and verify `INACTIVE` conforms to site policy (no more than 30 days):

```bash
# useradd -D | grep INACTIVE

INACTIVE=30
```

Verify all users with a password have Password inactive no more than 30 days after password expires:

Run the following command and Review list of users and INACTIVE to verify that all users' INACTIVE conforms to site policy (no more than 30 days):

```bash
# grep -E '^[^:]+:[^\!*]' /etc/shadow | cut -d: -f1,7

<user>:<INACTIVE>
```

## Expected Result

`INACTIVE` should be 30 or less from `useradd -D` and for all users with a password in `/etc/shadow`.

## Remediation

Run the following command to set the default password inactivity period to 30 days:

```bash
# useradd -D -f 30
```

Modify user parameters for all users with a password set to match:

```bash
# chage --inactive 30 <user>
```

Additional Information:

You can also check this setting in `/etc/shadow` directly. The 7th field should be 30 or less for all users with a password.

Note: A value of -1 would disable this setting.

## CIS Controls

| Controls Version | Control                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8               | **5.2 Use Unique Passwords** - Use unique passwords for all enterprise assets. Best practice implementation includes, at a minimum, an 8-character password for accounts using MFA and a 14-character password for accounts not using MFA. | x    | x    | x    |
| v7               | **4.4 Use Unique Passwords** - Where multi-factor authentication is not supported (such as local administrator, root, or service accounts), accounts will use passwords that are unique to that system.                                    |      | x    | x    |

## Profile

- Level 2 - Server