Ensure 'MUST_CHANGE' Option is set to 'ON' for All SQL Authenticated Logins

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.

Using SQL Server Management Studio 1. Open SQL Server Management Studio. 2. Open Object Explorer and connect to the target instance. 3. Navigate to the Logins tab in Object Explorer and expand. Right click on the desired login and select Properties. 4. Verify the User must change password at next login checkbox is checked. Using T-SQL SELECT name ,CAST(LOGINPROPERTY(log.name, N'IsMustChange') AS bit) AS [MustChangePassword],* FROM sys.server_principals AS log WHERE type = 'S' and CAST(LOGINPROPERTY(log.name, N'IsMustChange') AS bit) = 1 Returns "1" row for each new Login that has not been ...

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

Set the MUST_CHANGE option for SQL Authenticated logins when creating a login initially: CREATE LOGIN <login_name> WITH PASSWORD = '<password_value>' MUST_CHANGE, CHECK_EXPIRATION = ON, CHECK_POLICY = ON; Set the MUST_CHANGE option for SQL Authenticated logins when resetting a password: ALTER LOGIN <login_name> WITH PASSWORD = '<new_password_value>' MUST_CHANGE;