Windows Server 2016 minimum password age must be configured to at least one day.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-224871	WN16-AC-000060	SV-224871r569186_rule		Medium

Description
Permitting passwords to be changed in immediate succession within the same day allows users to cycle passwords through their history database. This enables users to effectively negate the purpose of mandating periodic password changes.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2021-03-05

Details

Check Text ( C-26562r465515_chk )
Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor. Run "gpedit.msc". Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy. If the value for the "Minimum password age" is set to "0" days ("Password can be changed immediately"), this is a finding. For server core installations, run the following command: Secedit /Export /Areas SecurityPolicy /CFG C:\Path\FileName.Txt If "MinimumPasswordAge" equals "0" in the file, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-26562r465515_chk )

Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor.

Run "gpedit.msc".

Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy.

If the value for the "Minimum password age" is set to "0" days ("Password can be changed immediately"), this is a finding.

For server core installations, run the following command:

Secedit /Export /Areas SecurityPolicy /CFG C:\Path\FileName.Txt

If "MinimumPasswordAge" equals "0" in the file, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-26550r465516_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy >> "Minimum password age" to at least "1" day.