Caching of logon credentials must be limited.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
WN12-SO-000024	WN12-SO-000024	WN12-SO-000024_rule		Low

Description
The default Windows configuration caches the last logon credentials for users who log on interactively to a system. This feature is provided for system availability reasons, such as the user's machine being disconnected from the network or domain controllers being unavailable. Even though the credential cache is well protected, storing encrypted copies of users' passwords on workstations does not always have the same physical protection required for domain controllers. If a workstation is attacked, an unauthorized individual may isolate the password to a domain user account using a password-cracking program and gain access to the domain.

Description

The default Windows configuration caches the last logon credentials for users who log on interactively to a system. This feature is provided for system availability reasons, such as the user's machine being disconnected from the network or domain controllers being unavailable. Even though the credential cache is well protected, storing encrypted copies of users' passwords on workstations does not always have the same physical protection required for domain controllers. If a workstation is attacked, an unauthorized individual may isolate the password to a domain user account using a password-cracking program and gain access to the domain.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Domain Controller Security Technical Implementation Guide	2013-07-25

Details

Check Text ( C-WN12-SO-000024_chk )
If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\ Value Name: CachedLogonsCount Value Type: REG_SZ Value: 4 (or less)

Fix Text (F-WN12-SO-000024_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options -> "Interactive Logon: Number of previous logons to cache (in case domain controller is not available)" to "4" logons or less.