TMA-MSSQL-4.3
Ensure 'CHECK_POLICY' Option is set to 'ON' for All SQL Authenticated Logins
Description
Applies the same password complexity policy used in Windows to passwords used inside SQL Server. Disabled logins with CHECK_POLICY OFF are counted too, as in the benchmark query. Default: CHECK_POLICY is ON 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
sqlcmd -b -h -1 -W -Q "SET NOCOUNT ON; SELECT COUNT(*) FROM sys.sql_logins WHERE is_policy_checked = 0;"- 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_POLICY = ON; Note: In the case of AWS RDS do not perform this remediation for the Master account.
Properties
- Operating systems
- Any
- Tags
- mssqldatabaseauthenticationpassword-policy
- Reference
- CIS Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Benchmark v1.0.0 - 4.3 Ensure 'CHECK_POLICY' Option is set to 'ON' for All SQL Authenticated Logins
Check this host
Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.
tmaegis scan --target mssql