The DBMS must enforce password maximum lifetime restrictions.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-52291	O112-C2-015200	SV-66507r2_rule		Medium

Description
Password maximum lifetime is the maximum period of time, (typically in days) a user's password may be in effect before the user is forced to change it. Passwords need to be changed at specific policy-based intervals as per policy. Any password, no matter how complex, can eventually be cracked. One method of minimizing this risk is to use complex passwords and periodically change them. If the application does not limit the lifetime of passwords and force users to change their passwords, there is the risk that the system and/or application passwords could be compromised. Note: User authentication and account management must be done via an enterprise-wide mechanism whenever possible. Examples of enterprise-level authentication/access mechanisms include, but are not limited to, Active Directory and LDAP. With respect to Oracle, this requirement applies to cases where it is necessary to have accounts directly managed by Oracle.

Description

Password maximum lifetime is the maximum period of time, (typically in days) a user's password may be in effect before the user is forced to change it. Passwords need to be changed at specific policy-based intervals as per policy. Any password, no matter how complex, can eventually be cracked. One method of minimizing this risk is to use complex passwords and periodically change them. If the application does not limit the lifetime of passwords and force users to change their passwords, there is the risk that the system and/or application passwords could be compromised. Note: User authentication and account management must be done via an enterprise-wide mechanism whenever possible. Examples of enterprise-level authentication/access mechanisms include, but are not limited to, Active Directory and LDAP. With respect to Oracle, this requirement applies to cases where it is necessary to have accounts directly managed by Oracle.

STIG	Date
Oracle Database 11.2g Security Technical Implementation Guide	2016-06-23

Details

Check Text ( C-54347r3_chk )
If all user accounts are authenticated by the OS or an enterprise-level authentication/access mechanism, and not by Oracle, this is not a finding. Review DBMS settings to determine if passwords must be changed periodically. If not, this is a finding: SELECT * FROM SYS.DBA_PROFILES WHERE RESOURCE_NAME = 'PASSWORD_LIFE_TIME'; If the value is greater than 60 for any profile applied to user accounts, and the need for this has not been documented and approved by the ISSO, this is a finding. If the value is greater than 35 for any profile applied to user accounts, and the DBMS is configured to use Password Lifetime to disable inactive accounts (see requirement SRG-APP-000025-DB-000004), this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-54347r3_chk )

If all user accounts are authenticated by the OS or an enterprise-level authentication/access mechanism, and not by Oracle, this is not a finding.

Review DBMS settings to determine if passwords must be changed periodically. If not, this is a finding:

SELECT * FROM SYS.DBA_PROFILES WHERE RESOURCE_NAME = 'PASSWORD_LIFE_TIME';

If the value is greater than 60 for any profile applied to user accounts, and the need for this has not been documented and approved by the ISSO, this is a finding.

If the value is greater than 35 for any profile applied to user accounts, and the DBMS is configured to use Password Lifetime to disable inactive accounts (see requirement SRG-APP-000025-DB-000004), this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-57107r4_fix)
For user accounts managed by Oracle: Modify DBMS settings to force users to periodically change their passwords. For example, using PPPPPP to stand for a profile name: ALTER PROFILE PPPPPP LIMIT PASSWORD_LIFE_TIME 35; Do this for each profile applied to user accounts. (Although the DoD requirement is for a password change every 60 days, using a value of 35 facilitates the use of PASSWORD_LIFE_TIME as a means of locking accounts inactive for 35 days, as required by SRG-APP-000025-DB-000004. But if 35 is not a practical or acceptable limit for password lifetime, set it to the standard DoD value of 60, and use another method to satisfy SRG-APP-000025-DB-000004.) Where a password lifetime longer than 60 is needed, document the reasons and obtain ISSO approval.

Fix Text (F-57107r4_fix)

For user accounts managed by Oracle: Modify DBMS settings to force users to periodically change their passwords. For example, using PPPPPP to stand for a profile name:

ALTER PROFILE PPPPPP LIMIT PASSWORD_LIFE_TIME 35;

Do this for each profile applied to user accounts.

(Although the DoD requirement is for a password change every 60 days, using a value of 35 facilitates the use of PASSWORD_LIFE_TIME as a means of locking accounts inactive for 35 days, as required by SRG-APP-000025-DB-000004. But if 35 is not a practical or acceptable limit for password lifetime, set it to the standard DoD value of 60, and use another method to satisfy SRG-APP-000025-DB-000004.)

Where a password lifetime longer than 60 is needed, document the reasons and obtain ISSO approval.