The password history must be configured to 24 passwords remembered.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-220742	WN10-AC-000020	SV-220742r1000079_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 a password 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 10 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-11-25

Details

Check Text (C-22457r554711_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.

Fix Text (F-22446r554712_fix)

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy >> "Enforce password history" to "24" passwords remembered.