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WN11-AC-000020 The password history must be configured to 24 passwords remembered.

DISA STIG library V2R11
All changes in this version
first version loaded CAT II

Maps to IA-5(1) via CCI-004061

Title

The password history must be configured to 24 passwords remembered.

Control

Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor. Run "gpedit.msc". For GPO-managed systems, navigate to: Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy. Or For Intune-managed systems, navigate to: HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\DeviceLock!DevicePasswordHistory If the value for "Enforce password history" is less than "24" passwords remembered, this is a finding.

Discussion

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. DoW has determined this is the appropriate value for all Windows systems.

Related controls

CCI-004061

Fix

For GPO-managed systems: Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy >> "Enforce password history" to "24" passwords remembered. For Intune-managed systems: Revise the Intune policy to set password history policy to "24" passwords remembered.