Windows Server 2025 maximum age for machine account passwords must be configured to 30 days or less.
Severity | Group ID | Group Title | Version | Rule ID | Date | STIG Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium | V-278204 | SRG-OS-000480-GPOS-00227 | WN25-SO-000100 | SV-278204r1182319_rule | 2026-02-20 | 1 |
Description
Computer account passwords are changed automatically on a regular basis. This setting controls the maximum password age that a machine account may have. This must be set to no more than 30 days, ensuring the machine changes its password monthly.
ℹ️ Check
This applies to member servers and stand-alone or nondomain-joined systems; it is not applicable for domain controllers.
This is the default configuration for this setting (30 days).
If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding:
Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry Path: \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netlogon\Parameters\
Value Name: MaximumPasswordAge
Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0x0000001e (30) (or less, but not 0)
✔️ Fix
This is the default configuration for this setting (30 days).
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Local Policies >> Security Options >> Domain member: Maximum machine account password age to "30" or less (excluding "0", which is unacceptable).