Windows Server 2016 password history must be configured to 24 passwords remembered.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-224869	WN16-AC-000040	SV-224869r569186_rule		Medium

Description
A system is more vulnerable to unauthorized access when system users recycle the same password several times without being required to change to a unique password on a regularly scheduled basis. This enables users to effectively negate the purpose of mandating periodic password changes. The default value is "24" for Windows domain systems. DoD has decided this is the appropriate value for all Windows systems.

Description

A system is more vulnerable to unauthorized access when system users recycle the same password several times without being required to change to a unique password on a regularly scheduled basis. This enables users to effectively negate the purpose of mandating periodic password changes. The default value is "24" for Windows domain systems. DoD has decided this is the appropriate value for all Windows systems.

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

Details

Check Text ( C-26560r465509_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 "Enforce password history" is less than "24" passwords remembered, this is a finding. For server core installations, run the following command: Secedit /Export /Areas SecurityPolicy /CFG C:\Path\FileName.Txt If "PasswordHistorySize" is less than "24" in the file, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-26560r465509_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 "Enforce password history" is less than "24" passwords remembered, this is a finding.

For server core installations, run the following command:

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

If "PasswordHistorySize" is less than "24" in the file, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-26548r465510_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy >> "Enforce password history" to "24" passwords remembered.