V-216323

Discussion

Passwords need to be changed at specific policy-based intervals; however, if the information system or application allows the user to immediately and continually change their password, then the password could be repeatedly changed in a short period of time, defeating the organization's policy regarding password reuse. Solaris 11.4 introduced new password security features that allow for a more granular approach to password duration parameters. The introduction of MAXDAYS, MINDAYS, and WARNDAYS allow the /etc/default/passwd configuration file to enforce a minimum password lifetime of a single day.

Check Content

The root role is required.

Check whether the minimum time period between password changes for each user account is 1 day or greater. 

Determine the OS version to be secured.
# uname -v

For Solaris 11, 11.1, 11.2, and 11.3:

# logins -ox |awk -F: '( $1 != "root" && $8 != "LK" && $8 != "NL" && $10 < "1" ) { print }'

If output is returned and the listed account is accessed via direct logon, this is a finding.

Check that /etc/default/password is configured to minimum password change time of one week.

# grep "^MINWEEKS=" /etc/default/passwd 

If the command does not report MINWEEKS=1 or more, this is a finding.

For Solaris 11.4 or newer:

# logins -ox |awk -F: '( $1 != "root" && $8 != "LK" && $8 != "NL" && $10 < "1" ) { print }'

If output is returned and the listed account is accessed via direct logon, this is a finding.

Check that /etc/default/password is configured to minimum password change time of 1 day.
Note: It is an error to set both the WEEKS and the DAYS variant for a given MIN/MAX/WARN variable.

# grep "^MINDAYS=" /etc/default/passwd 

If the command does not report MINDAYS=1 or more, this is a finding.

# grep "^MINWEEKS=" /etc/default/passwd 

If output is returned, this is a finding.