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Passwords for new users must be restricted to a 60-day maximum lifetime.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-71929 RHEL-07-010250 SV-86553r1_rule Medium
Description
Any password, no matter how complex, can eventually be cracked. Therefore, passwords need to be changed periodically. If the operating system does not limit the lifetime of passwords and force users to change their passwords, there is the risk that the operating system passwords could be compromised.
STIG Date
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2017-12-14

Details

Check Text ( C-72161r1_chk )
Verify the operating system enforces a 60-day maximum password lifetime restriction for new user accounts.

Check for the value of "PASS_MAX_DAYS" in "/etc/login.defs" with the following command:

# grep -i pass_max_days /etc/login.defs
PASS_MAX_DAYS 60

If the "PASS_MAX_DAYS" parameter value is not 60 or less, or is commented out, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-78281r1_fix)
Configure the operating system to enforce a 60-day maximum password lifetime restriction.

Add the following line in "/etc/login.defs" (or modify the line to have the required value):

PASS_MAX_DAYS 60