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Check: WN16-AC-000030

Microsoft Windows Server 2016 STIG: WN16-AC-000030 (in versions v2 r8 through v1 r8)

Title

Windows Server 2016 must have the period of time before the bad logon counter is reset configured to 15 minutes or greater. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

The account lockout feature, when enabled, prevents brute-force password attacks on the system. This parameter specifies the period of time that must pass after failed logon attempts before the counter is reset to "0". The smaller this value is, the less effective the account lockout feature will be in protecting the local system. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000021-GPOS-00005, SRG-OS-000329-GPOS-00128

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 >> Account Lockout Policy. If the "Reset account lockout counter after" value is less than "15" minutes, this is a finding. For server core installations, run the following command: Secedit /Export /Areas SecurityPolicy /CFG C:\Path\FileName.Txt If "ResetLockoutCount" is less than "15" in the file, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Account Lockout Policy >> "Reset account lockout counter after" to at least "15" minutes.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-224868r852302_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-224868

Group Title: SRG-OS-000021-GPOS-00005

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CCIs

CCIs tied to check.

Number	Definition
CCI-000044	The information system enforces the organization-defined limit of consecutive invalid logon attempts by a user during the organization-defined time period.
CCI-002238	The information system automatically locks the account or node for either an organization-defined time period, until the locked account or node is released by an administrator, or delays the next logon prompt according to the organization-defined delay algorithm when the maximum number of unsuccessful logon attempts is exceeded.

Controls

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

Number	Title
AC-7	Unsuccessful Logon Attempts