Ensure histsize is configured

MediumLevel 1Automatedaix

Description

Defines the number of previous passwords that a user may not reuse. In setting the histsize attribute, it enforces a minimum number of previous passwords a user cannot reuse. Audit: reads `lssec -f /etc/security/user -s default -a histsize`.

How it is checked

Audit method: Shell command

shell

command -v lssec >/dev/null 2>&1 || exit 1; out=$(lssec -f /etc/security/user -s default -a histsize 2>/dev/null) || exit 1; v=$(printf '%s\n' "$out" | sed -n 's/.*histsize=\([^ ]*\).*/\1/p'); if { [ -z "$v" ] || [ "$v" = 0 ]; }; then echo compliant; else echo "histsize=$v"; fi

Expected output: compliant

How it is fixed

Fix method: Shell command

shell

chsec -f /etc/security/user -s default -a histsize=0

Properties

Operating systems: Any
Tags: aixpassword-policy
Reference: CIS IBM AIX 7 Benchmark v1.2.0 - 5.2.1 Ensure histsize is configured

Check this host

Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.

shell

tmaegis scan --target aix