AWSOverview
IAM password policies can require passwords to be rotated or expired after a given number of days. It is recommended that the password policy expire passwords after 90 days or less.
Rationale
Reducing the password lifetime increases account resiliency against brute force login attempts. Additionally, requiring regular password changes help in the following scenarios:
- Passwords can be stolen or compromised sometimes without your knowledge. This can happen via a system compromise, software vulnerability, or internal threat.
- Certain corporate and government web filters or proxy servers have the ability to intercept and record traffic even if it's encrypted.
- Many people use the same password for many systems such as work, email, and personal.
- Compromised end user workstations might have a keystroke logger.
Remediation guidance
Perform the following to set the password policy as prescribed:
Via AWS Console
- Login to AWS Console (with appropriate permissions to View Identity Access Management Account Settings)
- Go to IAM Service on the AWS Console
- Click on Account Settings on the Left Pane
- Check "Enable password expiration"
- Set
Password expiration period (in days):to90or less
Via CLI
aws iam update-account-password-policy --max-password-age 90
Service-wide remediation
Recommended when many resources are affected: fix the platform baseline first so new resources inherit the secure setting, then remediate the existing flagged resources in batches.
AWS
Use AWS Organizations guardrails, AWS Config rules or conformance packs where they fit, approved account baselines, and IaC modules so new resources inherit the secure setting.
Operational rollout
- Fix the baseline first at the account, subscription, project, cluster, or tenant scope that owns this control.
- Remediate the currently affected resources in batches, starting with internet-exposed and production assets.
- Re-scan and track approved exceptions with an owner and expiry date.
Query logic
These are the stored checks tied to this control.
IAM password policy expires passwords within 90 days or less
Connectors
Covered asset types
Expected check: eq []
{ iamPasswordPolicies( where: { OR: [{ maxPasswordAge: 0 }, { maxPasswordAge_GT: 90 }] } ) {...AssetFragment} } 
