Vulnerability Discussion

A system is more vulnerable to unauthorized access when system users recycle the same password several times without being required to change a password to a unique password on a regularly scheduled basis. This enables users to effectively negate the purpose of mandating periodic password changes. The default value is 24 for Windows domain systems. DOD has determined this is the appropriate value for all Windows systems.

Check

Verify the effective setting in Local Group Policy Editor.

Run "gpedit.msc".

For GPO-managed systems, navigate to:

Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy.

Or

For Intune-managed systems, navigate to:

HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\DeviceLock!DevicePasswordHistory

If the value for "Enforce password history" is less than "24" passwords remembered, this is a finding.

Fix

For GPO-managed systems:

Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Windows Settings >> Security Settings >> Account Policies >> Password Policy >> "Enforce password history" to "24" passwords remembered.

For Intune-mnaged systems:

Revise the Intune policy to set password history policy to "24" passwords remembered.