DISA STIGS Viewer

NixOS must enforce a 60-day maximum password lifetime restriction.

Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-268133 ANIX-00-000800 SV-268133r1039287_rule   Medium
Description
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.
STIG Date
Anduril NixOS Security Technical Implementation Guide 2024-10-25

Details

Check Text (C-72057r1039285_chk)
Verify NixOS enforces a 60-day maximum password lifetime for new user accounts by running the following command:

$ grep PASS_MAX_DAYS /etc/login.defs

PASS_MAX_DAYS 60

If the "PASS_MAX_DAYS" parameter value is less than 60 or commented out, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-71960r1039286_fix)
Configure NixOS operating system to enforce a 60-day maximum password lifetime.

Add/modify /etc/nixos/configuration.nix to include the following lines:

environment.etc."login.defs".text = pkgs.lib.mkForce ''
PASS_MAX_DAYS 60
'';

Rebuild the system with the following command:

$ sudo nixos-rebuild switch