CIS Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise RTM (Release 1507) Benchmark

1.1.2 (L1) Set 'Maximum password age' to '60 or fewer days, but not 0'
(Scored)
Profile Applicability:
Level 1
Level 1 + BitLocker
Description:
This policy setting defines how long a user can use their password before it expires.
Values for this policy setting range from 0 to 999 days. If you set the value to 0, the
password will never expire.
Because attackers can crack passwords, the more frequently you change the password the
less opportunity an attacker has to use a cracked password. However, the lower this value
is set, the higher the potential for an increase in calls to help desk support due to users
having to change their password or forgetting which password is current.
The recommended state for this setting is 60 or fewer days, but not 0.
Rationale:
The longer a password exists the higher the likelihood that it will be compromised by a
brute force attack, by an attacker gaining general knowledge about the user, or by the user
sharing the password. Configuring the Maximum password age setting to 0 so that users
are never required to change their passwords is a major security risk because that allows a
compromised password to be used by the malicious user for as long as the valid user is
authorized access.
Audit:
Navigate to the UI Path articulated in the Remediation section and confirm it is set as
prescribed.
Remediation:
To establish the recommended configuration via GP, set the following UI path to 60 or
fewer days, but not 0:
Computer Configuration\Policies\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Account
Policies\Password Policy\Maximum password age
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