Title

The vCenter Server must enforce a 60-day maximum password lifetime restriction. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Any password, no matter how complex, can eventually be cracked. Therefore, passwords need to be changed at specific intervals. One method of minimizing this risk is to use complex passwords and periodically change them. If the application does not limit the lifetime of passwords and force users to change their passwords, there is the risk that the system and/or application passwords could be compromised. This requirement does not include emergency administration accounts, which are meant for access to the application in case of failure. These accounts are not required to have maximum password lifetime restrictions.

Check Content

From the vSphere Client, go to Administration >> Single Sign-On >> Configuration >> Policies >> Password Policy. View the value of the "Maximum lifetime" setting. If the "Maximum lifetime" policy is not set to "60", this is a finding.

Fix Text

From the vSphere Client, go to Administration >> Single Sign-On >> Configuration >> Policies >> Password Policy. Click "Edit". Enter "60" into the "Maximum lifetime" setting and click "OK".

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-243074r719465_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-243074

Group Title: SRG-APP-000174

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

Controls tied to check. These are derived from the CCIs shown above.