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V-270731

CAT II (Medium)

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS must be able to enforce a 180-day maximum password lifetime restriction.

Rule ID

SV-270731r1273634_rule

STIG

Canonical Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V1R7

CCIs

CCI-004066

Discussion

Any password, no matter how complex, can eventually be cracked. Therefore, passwords need to be changed periodically. If Ubuntu 24.04 LTS does not limit the lifetime of passwords and force users to change their passwords, there is the risk that Ubuntu 24.04 LTS passwords could be compromised.

Check Content

Verify Ubuntu 24.04 LTS enforces a 180-day maximum password lifetime for new user accounts with the following command:
 
$ grep -i ^PASS_MAX_DAYS /etc/login.defs
PASS_MAX_DAYS    180 
 
If the "PASS_MAX_DAYS" parameter value is less than "180" or is commented out, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure Ubuntu 24.04 LTS to enforce a 180-day maximum password lifetime. 
 
Add or modify the following line in the "/etc/login.defs" file: 
 
PASS_MAX_DAYS    180