RHEL 9 user account passwords for new users or password changes must have a 60-day maximum password lifetime restriction in /etc/login.defs.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-258041	RHEL-09-411010	SV-258041r997076_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. Setting the password maximum age ensures users are required to periodically change their passwords. Requiring shorter password lifetimes increases the risk of users writing down the password in a convenient location subject to physical compromise.

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. Setting the password maximum age ensures users are required to periodically change their passwords. Requiring shorter password lifetimes increases the risk of users writing down the password in a convenient location subject to physical compromise.

STIG	Date
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-06-04

Details

Check Text ( C-61782r926108_chk )
Verify that RHEL 9 enforces a 60-day maximum password lifetime for new user accounts by running the following command: $ grep -i pass_max_days /etc/login.defs PASS_MAX_DAYS 60 If the "PASS_MAX_DAYS" parameter value is greater than "60", or commented out, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-61706r926109_fix)
Configure RHEL 9 to enforce a 60-day maximum password lifetime. Add or modify the following line in the "/etc/login.defs" file: PASS_MAX_DAYS 60