Title

Windows 2012/2012 R2 passwords must be configured to expire. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Passwords that do not expire or are reused increase the exposure of a password with greater probability of being discovered or cracked.

Check Content

Review the password never expires status for enabled user accounts. Open "Windows PowerShell" with elevated privileges (run as administrator). Domain Controllers: Enter "Search-ADAccount -PasswordNeverExpires -UsersOnly | Where PasswordNeverExpires -eq True | FT Name, PasswordNeverExpires, Enabled". Exclude application accounts and disabled accounts (e.g., Guest). If any enabled user accounts are returned with a "PasswordNeverExpires" status of "True", this is a finding. Member servers and standalone systems: Enter 'Get-CimInstance -Class Win32_Useraccount -Filter "PasswordExpires=False and LocalAccount=True" | FT Name, PasswordExpires, Disabled, LocalAccount'. Exclude application accounts and disabled accounts (e.g., Guest). If any enabled user accounts are returned with a "PasswordExpires" status of "False", this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure all enabled user account passwords to expire. Uncheck "Password never expires" for all enabled user accounts in Active Directory Users and Computers for domain accounts and Users in Computer Management for member servers and standalone systems. Document any exceptions with the ISSO.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-226247r857210_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-226247

Group Title: SRG-OS-000076-GPOS-00044

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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