======5.4.1.3 Ensure password expiration warning days is 7 or more (Scored)====== =====Profile Applicability===== Level 1 - Server Level 1 - Workstation =====Description===== The ''PASS_WARN_AGE'' parameter in ''/etc/login.defs'' allows an administrator to notify users that their password will expire in a defined number of days. It is recommended that the ''PASS_WARN_AGE'' parameter be set to 7 or more days. =====Rationale===== Providing an advance warning that a password will be expiring gives users time to think of a secure password. Users caught unaware may choose a simple password or write it down where it may be discovered. =====Audit===== Run the following command and verify ''PASS_WARN_AGE'' is 7 or more: # grep PASS_WARN_AGE /etc/login.defs PASS_WARN_AGE 7 Verify all users with a password have their number of days of warning before password expires set to 7 or more: # egrep ^[^:]+:[^\!*] /etc/shadow | cut -d: -f1 # chage --list Number of days of warning before password expires : 7 =====Remediation===== Set the ''PASS_WARN_AGE'' parameter to 7 in ''/etc/login.defs'': PASS_WARN_AGE 7 Modify user parameters for all users with a password set to match: # chage --warndays 7 =====Notes===== You can also check this setting in ''/etc/shadow'' directly. The 6th field should be 7 or more for all users with a password.