TMA-COS-5.3.1.2
Ensure minimum days between password changes is 7 or more
Description
The PASS_MIN_DAYS parameter in /etc/login.defs allows an administrator to prevent users from changing their password until a minimum number of days have passed since the last time the user changed their password. It is recommended that PASS_MIN_DAYS parameter be set to 7 or more days. By restricting the frequency of password changes, an administrator can prevent users from repeatedly changing their password in an attempt to circumvent password reuse controls.
How it is checked
Audit method: Manual review
This recommendation cannot be checked automatically. A scan lists it with these instructions when you pass --include-manual.
Run the following command and verify PASS_MIN_DAYS conforms to site policy (no less than 7 days): # grep PASS_MIN_DAYS /etc/login.defs PASS_MIN_DAYS 7 Run the following command and Review list of users and PAS_MIN_DAYS to Verify that all users' PAS_MIN_DAYS conform s to site policy (no less than 7 days): # grep -E ^[^:]+:[^\!*] /etc/shadow | cut -d: -f1,4 <user>:<PASS_MIN_DAYS>
How it is fixed
Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch
Set the PASS_MIN_DAYS parameter to 7 in /etc/login.defs : PASS_MIN_DAYS 7 Modify user parameters for all users with a password set to match: # chage --mindays 7 <user>
Properties
- Operating systems
- Any
- Tags
- authcontainer-optimized-oscos
- Reference
- CIS Google Container-Optimized OS Benchmark v1.2.0 - 5.3.1.2 Ensure minimum days between password changes is 7 or more