Caching of logon credentials must be limited.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-220923	WN10-SO-000085	SV-220923r569187_rule		Low

Description
The default Windows configuration caches the last logon credentials for users who log on interactively to a system. This feature is provided for system availability reasons, such as the user's machine being disconnected from the network or domain controllers being unavailable. Even though the credential cache is well-protected, if a system is attacked, an unauthorized individual may isolate the password to a domain user account using a password-cracking program and gain access to the domain.

Description

The default Windows configuration caches the last logon credentials for users who log on interactively to a system. This feature is provided for system availability reasons, such as the user's machine being disconnected from the network or domain controllers being unavailable. Even though the credential cache is well-protected, if a system is attacked, an unauthorized individual may isolate the password to a domain user account using a password-cracking program and gain access to the domain.

STIG	Date
Windows 10 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2021-08-18

Details

Check Text ( C-22638r555254_chk )
This is the default configuration for this setting (10 logons to cache). If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\ Value Name: CachedLogonsCount Value Type: REG_SZ Value: 10 (or less) This setting only applies to domain-joined systems, however, it is configured by default on all systems.

Check Text ( C-22638r555254_chk )

This is the default configuration for this setting (10 logons to cache).

If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding:

Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\

Value Name: CachedLogonsCount

Value Type: REG_SZ
Value: 10 (or less)

This setting only applies to domain-joined systems, however, it is configured by default on all systems.

Fix Text (F-22627r555255_fix)
This is the default configuration for this setting (10 logons to cache). Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> Security Options >> "Interactive logon: Number of previous logons to cache (in case domain controller is not available)" to "10" logons or less. This setting only applies to domain-joined systems, however, it is configured by default on all systems.

Fix Text (F-22627r555255_fix)

This is the default configuration for this setting (10 logons to cache).

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> Security Options >> "Interactive logon: Number of previous logons to cache (in case domain controller is not available)" to "10" logons or less.

This setting only applies to domain-joined systems, however, it is configured by default on all systems.