cyberstrikeus Ensure password expiration warning days is 7 or more
Profile Applicability:
- Level 1 - Server
- Level 1 - Workstation
Assessment Status: Automated
Description
The PASS_WARN_AGE parameter in /etc/login.defs allows an administrator to notify users that their password will expire in a defined number of days. It is recommended that the PASS_WARN_AGE parameter be set to 7 or more days.
Rationale
Providing an advance warning that a password will be expiring gives users time to think of a secure password. Users caught unaware may choose a simple password or write it down where it may be discovered.
Audit Procedure
Command Line
Run the following command and verify PASS_WARN_AGE conforms to site policy (No less than 7 days):
grep PASS_WARN_AGE /etc/login.defs
Expected output:
PASS_WARN_AGE 7
Verify all users with a password have their number of days of warning before password expires set to 7 or more. Run the following command and Review list of users and PASS_WARN_AGE to verify that all users' PASS_WARN_AGE conforms to site policy (No less than 7 days):
awk -F: '(/^[^:]+:[^!*]/ && $6<7){print $1 " " $6}' /etc/shadow
Expected Result:
No <user>:<PASS_WARN_AGE> should be returned.
Remediation
Command Line
Set the PASS_WARN_AGE parameter to 7 in /etc/login.defs:
PASS_WARN_AGE 7
Modify user parameters for all users with a password set to match:
chage --warndays 7 <user>
Default Value
PASS_WARN_AGE 7
References
None
CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control |
|---|---|
| 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. |
Profile
- Level 1 - Server
- Level 1 - Workstation