TMA-MSSQL-4.2

Ensure 'CHECK_EXPIRATION' Option is set to 'ON' for All SQL Authenticated Logins Within the Sysadmin Role

MediumLevel 1Automatedmssql

Description

Applies the same password expiration policy used in Windows to passwords used inside SQL Server. On AWS RDS only the rdsa account being listed is acceptable. Default: CHECK_EXPIRATION is ON by default when using SSMS to create a SQL authenticated login. CHECK_EXPIRATION is OFF by default when using T-SQL CREATE LOGIN syntax without specifying the ... Runs one sqlcmd query with its defaults (Windows authentication to the local default instance); set SQLCMDSERVER, SQLCMDUSER and SQLCMDPASSWORD for another instance or SQL authentication. Needs VIEW SERVER STATE / sysadmin-level read access.

How it is checked

Audit method: SQL query

sql_query

sqlcmd -b -h -1 -W -Q "SET NOCOUNT ON; SELECT COUNT(*) FROM (SELECT l.name FROM sys.sql_logins AS l WHERE IS_SRVROLEMEMBER('sysadmin', l.name) = 1 AND l.is_expiration_checked <> 1 AND l.is_disabled = 0 UNION ALL SELECT l.name FROM sys.sql_logins AS l JOIN sys.server_permissions AS p ON l.principal_id = p.grantee_principal_id WHERE p.type = 'CL' AND p.state IN ('G','W') AND l.is_expiration_checked <> 1 AND l.is_disabled = 0) AS x;"

Expected output: 0

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

For each <login_name> found by the Audit Procedure, execute the following T-SQL statement: ALTER LOGIN [<login_name>] WITH CHECK_EXPIRATION = ON;

Properties

Operating systems: Any
Tags: mssqldatabaseauthenticationpassword-policy
Reference: CIS Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Benchmark v1.0.0 - 4.2 Ensure 'CHECK_EXPIRATION' Option is set to 'ON' for All SQL Authenticated Logins Within the Sysadmin Role

Check this host

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

shell

tmaegis scan --target mssql