STIGhubSTIGhub
STIGsRMF ControlsCompare

STIGhub

A free tool to search and browse the entire DISA STIG library. Saves up to 75% in security compliance research time.

Navigation

  • Browse STIGs
  • Search
  • RMF Controls
  • Compare Versions

Resources

  • About
  • Release Notes
  • VPAT
  • DISA STIG Library
STIGs updated 3 hours ago
Powered by Pylon
© 2026 Beacon Cloud Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
← Back to Oracle Linux 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide

V-221690

CAT II (Medium)

The Oracle Linux operating system must be configured to lock accounts for a minimum of 15 minutes after three unsuccessful logon attempts within a 15-minute timeframe.

Rule ID

SV-221690r958388_rule

STIG

Oracle Linux 7 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V3R5

CCIs

CCI-000044CCI-002236CCI-002237CCI-002238

Discussion

By limiting the number of failed logon attempts, the risk of unauthorized system access via user password guessing, otherwise known as brute-forcing, is reduced. Limits are imposed by locking the account. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000329-GPOS-00128, SRG-OS-000021-GPOS-00005

Check Content

Check that the system locks an account for a minimum of 15 minutes after three unsuccessful logon attempts within a period of 15 minutes with the following command:

     # grep pam_faillock.so /etc/pam.d/password-auth

auth        required      pam_faillock.so preauth silent audit deny=3 even_deny_root fail_interval=900 unlock_time=900
auth        [default=die] pam_faillock.so authfail audit deny=3 even_deny_root fail_interval=900 unlock_time=900
account     required      pam_faillock.so 

If the "deny" parameter is set to "0" or a value greater than "3" on both "auth" lines with the "pam_faillock.so" module, or is missing from these lines, this is a finding.

If the "even_deny_root" parameter is not set on both "auth" lines with the "pam_faillock.so" module, or is missing from these lines, this is a finding.

If the "fail_interval" parameter is set to "0" or is set to a value less than "900" on both "auth" lines with the "pam_faillock.so" module, or is missing from these lines, this is a finding.

If the "unlock_time" parameter is not set to "0", "never", or is set to a value less than "900" on both "auth" lines with the "pam_faillock.so" module, or is missing from these lines, this is a finding.

Note: The maximum configurable value for "unlock_time" is "604800". 

If any line referencing the "pam_faillock.so" module is commented out, this is a finding.

     # grep pam_faillock.so /etc/pam.d/system-auth

auth        required      pam_faillock.so preauth silent audit deny=3 even_deny_root fail_interval=900 unlock_time=900
auth        [default=die] pam_faillock.so authfail audit deny=3 even_deny_root fail_interval=900 unlock_time=900
account     required      pam_faillock.so

If the "deny" parameter is set to "0" or a value greater than "3" on both "auth" lines with the "pam_faillock.so" module, or is missing from these lines, this is a finding.

If the "even_deny_root" parameter is not set on both "auth" lines with the "pam_faillock.so" module, or is missing from these lines, this is a finding.

If the "fail_interval" parameter is set to "0" or is set to a value less than "900" on both "auth" lines with the "pam_faillock.so" module, or is missing from these lines, this is a finding.

If the "unlock_time" parameter is not set to "0", "never", or is set to a value less than "900" on both "auth" lines with the "pam_faillock.so" module or is missing from these lines, this is a finding.

Note: The maximum configurable value for "unlock_time" is "604800". 

If any line referencing the "pam_faillock.so" module is commented out, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the operating system to lock an account for the maximum period when three unsuccessful logon attempts in 15 minutes are made.

Add/Modify the appropriate sections of the "/etc/pam.d/system-auth" and "/etc/pam.d/password-auth" files to match the following lines:

auth        required      pam_faillock.so preauth silent audit deny=3 even_deny_root fail_interval=900 unlock_time=900
auth        sufficient    pam_unix.so try_first_pass
auth        [default=die] pam_faillock.so authfail audit deny=3 even_deny_root fail_interval=900 unlock_time=900
account     required      pam_faillock.so   

Note: Per requirement OL07-00-010199, Oracle Linux 7 must be configured to not overwrite custom authentication configuration settings while using the authconfig utility, otherwise manual changes to the listed files will be overwritten whenever the authconfig utility is used.