Microsoft Windows 11

The password history must be configured to 24 passwords remembered

STIG ID: WN11-AC-000020 | SRG: SRG-OS-000077-GPOS-00045 | Severity: Medium | CCI: CCI-004061 | Vulnerability ID: V-253300

Description

A system is more vulnerable to unauthorized access when system users recycle the same password several times without being required to change a password to a unique password on a regularly scheduled basis. This enables users to effectively negate the purpose of mandating periodic password changes. The default value is 24 for Windows domain systems. DOD has decided this is the appropriate value for all Windows systems.

Check

C-56753r828982_chk

Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor.Run "gpedit.msc".Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy.If the value for "Enforce password history" is less than "24" passwords remembered, this is a finding.

Fix

F-56703r828983_fix

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy >> "Enforce password history" to "24" passwords remembered.