SLEM 5 must employ user passwords with a maximum lifetime of 180 days.

Any password, no matter how complex, can eventually be cracked. Therefore, passwords need to be changed periodically. If SLEM 5 does not limit the lifetime of passwords and force users to change their passwords, there is the risk that SLEM 5 passwords could be compromised.

Verify that SLEM 5 enforces a maximum user password age of 180 days or less with the following command:

     > sudo awk -F: '$5 > 180 || $5 == "" {print $1 ":" $5}' /etc/shadow

If any results are returned that are not associated with a system account, this is a finding.

Configure SLEM 5 to enforce a maximum password age of each <username> account to 180 days. The command in the check text will give a list of users that need to be updated to be in compliance:

     > sudo passwd -x 180 <username>