Check: WN10-AC-000020
Microsoft Windows 10 STIG:
WN10-AC-000020
(in versions v3 r2 through v1 r7)
Title
The password history must be configured to 24 passwords remembered. (Cat II impact)
Discussion
A system is more vulnerable to unauthorized access when system users recycle the same password several times without being required to change a password to a unique password on a regularly scheduled basis. This enables users to effectively negate the purpose of mandating periodic password changes. The default value is 24 for Windows domain systems. DOD has decided this is the appropriate value for all Windows systems.
Check Content
Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor. Run "gpedit.msc". Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy. If the value for "Enforce password history" is less than "24" passwords remembered, this is a finding.
Fix Text
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy >> "Enforce password history" to "24" passwords remembered.
Additional Identifiers
Rule ID: SV-220742r1000079_rule
Vulnerability ID: V-220742
Group Title: SRG-OS-000077-GPOS-00045
Expert Comments
CCIs
| Number | Definition |
|---|---|
| CCI-000200 |
The information system prohibits password reuse for the organization-defined number of generations. |
| CCI-004061 |
For password-based authentication, verify when users create or update passwords, that the passwords are not found on the list of commonly-used, expected, or compromised passwords in IA-5 (1) (a). |
Controls
| Number | Title |
|---|---|
| IA-5(1) |
Password-based Authentication |