CIS Ubuntu 14.04 LTS - 5.4.1.3 Ensure password expiration warning days is 7 or more

DevOps & Security

Verify PASS_WARN_AGE is set to 7 or more in /etc/login.defs for password expiry warnings

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5.4.1.3 Ensure password expiration warning days is 7 or more (Scored)

Profile Applicability

Level 1 - Server
Level 1 - Workstation

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

Run the following command and verify PASS_WARN_AGE is 7 or more:

grep PASS_WARN_AGE /etc/login.defs

Verify all users with a password have their number of days of warning before password expires set to 7 or more:

egrep ^[^:]+:[^\!*] /etc/shadow | cut -d: -f1
chage --list <user>

Expected Result

PASS_WARN_AGE 7
Number of days of warning before password expires       : 7

Remediation

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

CIS Controls: 16 - Account Monitoring and Control

Profile

Level 1 - Server
Level 1 - Workstation