V-277145

Discussion

The macOS must be configured to enforce a maximum password lifetime limit of at least 180 days. This rule ensures that users are forced to change their passwords frequently enough to prevent malicious users from gaining and maintaining access to the system. Note: The guidance for password-based authentication in NIST 800-53 (Rev 5) and NIST 800-63B states that complexity rules must be organizationally defined. The values defined are based on common complexity values, but each organization may define its own password complexity rules.

Check Content

Verify the macOS system is configured to restrict maximum password lifetime to 180 days with the following command:

/usr/bin/pwpolicy -getaccountpolicies 2> /dev/null | /usr/bin/tail +2 | /usr/bin/xmllint --xpath '//dict/key[text()="policyAttributeExpiresEveryNDays"]/following-sibling::*[1]/text()' - | /usr/bin/awk '{ if ($1 <= 180 ) {print "pass"} else {print "fail"}}' | /usr/bin/uniq

If the result is not "pass" or fewer, this is a finding.