AlmaLinux OS 9 must automatically lock an account when three unsuccessful logon attempts occur during a 15-minute time period.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-269149 | ALMA-09-007720 | SV-269149r1050031_rule | Medium |
| Description |
| By limiting the number of failed logon attempts, the risk of unauthorized system access via user password guessing, otherwise known as brute-force attacks, is reduced. Limits are imposed by locking the account. |
| STIG | Date |
| CloudLinux AlmaLinux OS 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-22 |
Details
| Check Text (C-73180r1049206_chk) |
| Note: If the system administrator demonstrates the use of an approved centralized account management method that locks an account after three unsuccessful logon attempts within a period of 15 minutes, this requirement is Not Applicable. Verify AlmaLinux OS 9 locks an account after three unsuccessful logon attempts within a period of 15 minutes with the following command: $ grep fail_interval /etc/security/faillock.conf fail_interval = 900 If the "fail_interval" option is not set to 900 or less (but not 0), the line is commented out, or the line is missing, this is a finding. |
| Fix Text (F-73081r1049207_fix) |
| Configure AlmaLinux OS 9 to lock an account after a number of incorrect login attempts within 15 minutes using pam_faillock. First, enable the feature using the following command: $ authselect enable-feature with-faillock Then, add or uncomment the following line in the "/etc/security/faillock.conf" file: fail_interval = 900 |