======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.