Security Basics mailing list archives
RE: Minimum password requirements
From: "dave kleiman" <dave () isecureu com>
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2004 12:45:02 -0400
Well one thing we can all agree on is the ""arugability"" (yes I know it is not a real word) of every aspect of this subject. Once again I will point to the recommendations by CC and NSA/NIST all of which are listed below. I do this because of my above statement. This subject has so many points which can be pulled in either direction that at the end of the day we have to have some concrete solutions. It is nice to have a little backup when something goes wrong, at least you can say you met or exceeded a tested standard/guideline. Please also see: http://www.securityfocus.com/infocus/1554 http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/88/312263 Common Criteria: MinimumPasswordAge = 2 MaximumPasswordAge = 42 MinimumPasswordLength = 8 PasswordComplexity = 1 PasswordHistorySize = 24 NSA/NIST: MinimumPasswordAge = 1 MaximumPasswordAge = 90 MinimumPasswordLength = 12 PasswordComplexity = 1 PasswordHistorySize = 24 Dave Kleiman -----Original Message----- From: David Gillett [mailto:gillettdavid () fhda edu] Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2004 11:35 To: 'dave kleiman'; 'Randall M Gunning'; security-basics () securityfocus com Subject: RE: Minimum password requirements Well, I've known users who would change their password and then immediately change it back, if you let them, but never one who was willing to change it TEN times to get back to their old password. I'd think anyone who was that desperate would be dissuaded if the minimum time between changes was 30 minutes or so -- 10 days still strikes me as both overkill and *insecure*. Dave Gillett
-----Original Message----- From: dave kleiman [mailto:dave () isecureu com] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 7:37 PM To: gillettdavid () fhda edu; 'Randall M Gunning'; security-basics () securityfocus com Subject: RE: Minimum password requirements Dave, Absolutely it is otherwise the user could just change his password 10 times back to the original one. We generally use 3-5 days but 14 is fine. If your all your systems can support it you should try incorporating ALT characters into your policy it least for Admin and Extended access users. ______________________________________ Dave Kleiman, CISSP, CISM, CIFI, MCSE www.SecurityBreachResponse.com -----Original Message----- From: David Gillett [mailto:gillettdavid () fhda edu] Sent: Monday, July 19, 2004 11:47 To: 'Randall M Gunning'; security-basics () securityfocus com Subject: RE: Minimum password requirementsb. Passwords cannot be changed for at least 14 days.With the last 10 being retained, I don't think this one is necessary. And since it could prevent a leaked/compromised password from being changed, I'd say it risks decreasing security rather than improving it. Also, I don't see anything here which specifies the length or content of passwords, which directly determine how vulnerable they are to cracking. Or what about not writing them on a post-it stuck to a corner of the screen? David Gillett-----Original Message----- From: Randall M Gunning [mailto:securityfocus () randygunning com] Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 8:27 AM To: security-basics () securityfocus com Subject: Minimum password requirements I am working on implementing some minimum standards for our department. I am wondering what the list thinks of these standards: a. Passwords must be changed at least every 90 days. b. Passwords cannot be changed for at least 14 days. c. Previous passwords cannot be reused (at least the last 10). d. User ids and passwords are "owned" by an individual andmust not beshared with others. e. User accounts that have not been accessed (i.e. logged in to) for 30 days will be deactivated. f. Inactive user accounts will be deleted after 14 days. The numbers I have used are what I used in the corporate world for systems that had no special security requirements (i.e.they did nothave any confidential data on them). What are other peopledoing forthis type of standard, if anything? Also, if you had yourchoice (notsubject to a committee agreeing), what would you choose for these items? Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, Randy -------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- Ethical Hacking at the InfoSec Institute. Mention this adand get $545off any course! All of our class sizes are guaranteed to be 10 students or less to facilitate one-on-one interaction withone of ourexpert instructors. Attend a course taught by an expert instructor with years of in-the-field pen testing experience in our state of the art hacking lab. Master the skills of an Ethical Hacker to better assess the security of your organization. Visit us at:
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Current thread:
- Minimum password requirements Randall M Gunning (Jul 17)
- Re: Minimum password requirements Jordan Cole (stilist) (Jul 19)
- RE: Minimum password requirements Maurice Post (Jul 19)
- Re: Minimum password requirements Pete Hunt (Jul 19)
- Re: Minimum password requirements _ (Jul 19)
- RE: Minimum password requirements David Gillett (Jul 19)
- Re: Minimum password requirements Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers (Jul 20)
- RE: Minimum password requirements dave kleiman (Jul 20)
- RE: Minimum password requirements David Gillett (Jul 20)
- RE: Minimum password requirements dave kleiman (Jul 20)
- Re: Minimum password requirements steve (Jul 20)
- Re: Minimum password requirements Dan (Jul 20)
- Re: Minimum password requirements Robert Inder (Jul 20)
- Re: Minimum password requirements Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers (Jul 21)
- RE: Minimum password requirements Dave Dyer (Jul 21)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- RE: Minimum password requirements John Vill (Jul 19)
- RE: Minimum password requirements Robinson, Sonja (Jul 19)
- RE: Minimum password requirements dave kleiman (Jul 20)
- RE: Minimum password requirements Roger A. Grimes (Jul 19)
- Re: Minimum password requirements Ed Spencer (Jul 19)