The Photon operating system must be configured so that passwords for new users are restricted to a 90-day maximum lifetime.

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

At the command line, run the following command:

# grep "^PASS_MAX_DAYS" /etc/login.defs

If the value of "PASS_MAX_DAYS" is greater than "90", this is a finding.

Navigate to and open:

/etc/login.def

Modify the "PASS_MAX_DAYS" line to the following:

PASS_MAX_DAYS 90