← Back to Oracle Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide

V-271754

CAT II (Medium)

OL 9 must automatically lock an account when three unsuccessful logon attempts occur during a 15-minute time period.

Rule ID

SV-271754r1184208_rule

STIG

Oracle Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V1R5

CCIs

CCI-002238 CCI-000044

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

Verify OL 9 locks an account after three unsuccessful logon attempts within a period of 15 minutes with the following command:

$ grep fail_interval /etc/security/faillock.conf 
fail_interval = 900

If the "fail_interval" option is not set to "900" or less (but not "0"), the line is commented out, or the line is missing, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure OL 9 to lock out the "root" account after a number of incorrect login attempts within 15 minutes using "pam_faillock.so" by enabling the feature using the following command:
 
$ sudo authselect enable-feature with-faillock  

Then edit the "/etc/security/faillock.conf" file as follows:

fail_interval = 900