Skip to content

Ensure the Logon Failure Delay is Set Correctly in login.defs

An XCCDF Rule

Description

To ensure the logon failure delay controlled by /etc/login.defs is set properly, add or correct the FAIL_DELAY setting in /etc/login.defs to read as follows:

FAIL_DELAY 

Rationale

Increasing the time between a failed authentication attempt and re-prompting to enter credentials helps to slow a single-threaded brute force attack.

ID
xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_rule_accounts_logon_fail_delay
Severity
Medium
References
Updated



Remediation - Ansible

- name: Gather the package facts
  package_facts:
    manager: auto
  tags:
  - CCE-83028-1
  - DISA-STIG-SLES-12-010140

Remediation - Shell Script

# Remediation is applicable only in certain platforms
if rpm --quiet -q shadow; then

var_accounts_fail_delay='<xccdf-1.2:sub xmlns:xccdf-1.2="http://checklists.nist.gov/xccdf/1.2" idref="xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_value_var_accounts_fail_delay" use="legacy"/>'