| name | cis-ubuntu1604-v200-5-5-1-3 |
| description | Ensure password expiration warning days is 7 or more |
| category | cis-iam |
| version | 2.0.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["cis","ubuntu","linux","ubuntu-16.04","authentication","pam"] |
| cis_id | 5.5.1.3 |
| cis_benchmark | CIS Ubuntu Linux 16.04 LTS Benchmark v2.0.0 |
| tech_stack | ["ubuntu","linux"] |
| cwe_ids | [] |
| chains_with | [] |
| prerequisites | [] |
| severity_boost | {} |
Ensure password expiration warning days is 7 or more
Profile Applicability:
- Level 1 - Server
- Level 1 - Workstation
Assessment Status: Automated
Description
The PASS_WARN_AGE parameter in /etc/login.defs allows an administrator to notify users that their password will expire in a defined number of days. It is recommended that the PASS_WARN_AGE parameter be set to 7 or more days.
Rationale
Providing an advance warning that a password will be expiring gives users time to think of a secure password. Users caught unaware may choose a simple password or write it down where it may be discovered.
Audit Procedure
Command Line
Run the following command and verify PASS_WARN_AGE conforms to site policy (No less than 7 days):
grep PASS_WARN_AGE /etc/login.defs
Expected output:
PASS_WARN_AGE 7
Verify all users with a password have their number of days of warning before password expires set to 7 or more. Run the following command and Review list of users and PASS_WARN_AGE to verify that all users' PASS_WARN_AGE conforms to site policy (No less than 7 days):
awk -F: '(/^[^:]+:[^!*]/ && $6<7){print $1 " " $6}' /etc/shadow
Expected Result:
No <user>:<PASS_WARN_AGE> should be returned.
Remediation
Command Line
Set the PASS_WARN_AGE parameter to 7 in /etc/login.defs:
PASS_WARN_AGE 7
Modify user parameters for all users with a password set to match:
chage --warndays 7 <user>
Default Value
PASS_WARN_AGE 7
References
None
CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control |
|---|
| v7 | 4.4 Use Unique Passwords - Where multi-factor authentication is not supported (such as local administrator, root, or service accounts), accounts will use passwords that are unique to that system. |
Profile