ALMA-09-007940 - AlmaLinux OS 9 must configure the use of the pam_faillock.so module in the /etc/pam.d/password-auth file.

Information

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.

If the pam_faillock.so module is not loaded, the system will not correctly lockout accounts to prevent password guessing attacks.

Solution

Configure AlmaLinux OS 9 to include the use of the pam_faillock.so module in the /etc/pam.d/password-auth file.

Add/modify the appropriate sections of the "/etc/pam.d/password-auth" file to match the following lines, ensuring that the "preauth" line is listed before pam_unix.so.

auth required pam_faillock.so preauth
auth required pam_faillock.so authfail
account required pam_faillock.so

Note: Do not simply copy these three lines into the file; their location/order is important.

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_CL_AlmaLinux_OS_9_V1R1_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL

References: 800-53|AC-7a., CAT|II, CCI|CCI-000044, Rule-ID|SV-269151r1050033_rule, STIG-ID|ALMA-09-007940, Vuln-ID|V-269151

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 8721d9892e7a93a0251f63328caaae5b68b30f37431fac5a9dc4544483297d90