Windows 2016 account lockout duration must be configured to 15 minutes or greater.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-224866	WN16-AC-000010	SV-224866r852301_rule		Medium

Description
The account lockout feature, when enabled, prevents brute-force password attacks on the system. This parameter specifies the period of time that an account will remain locked after the specified number of failed logon attempts.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-02-21

Details

Check Text ( C-26557r465500_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 >> Account Lockout Policy. If the "Account lockout duration" is less than "15" minutes (excluding "0"), this is a finding. For server core installations, run the following command: Secedit /Export /Areas SecurityPolicy /CFG C:\Path\FileName.Txt If "LockoutDuration" is less than "15" (excluding "0") in the file, this is a finding. Configuring this to "0", requiring an administrator to unlock the account, is more restrictive and is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-26557r465500_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 >> Account Lockout Policy.

If the "Account lockout duration" is less than "15" minutes (excluding "0"), this is a finding.

For server core installations, run the following command:

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

If "LockoutDuration" is less than "15" (excluding "0") in the file, this is a finding.

Configuring this to "0", requiring an administrator to unlock the account, is more restrictive and is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-26545r465501_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Account Lockout Policy >> "Account lockout duration" to "15" minutes or greater. A value of "0" is also acceptable, requiring an administrator to unlock the account.