Ensure IAM Password Policy Requires Minimum Length of 14 or Greater
This rule ensures that IAM password policy enforces a minimum length of 14 characters or more.
| Rule | Ensure IAM password policy requires minimum length of 14 or greater |
| Framework | cis_v140 |
| Severity | ✔ Medium |
Ensure IAM Password Policy Requires Minimum Length of 14 or Greater for CIS v1.4.0
The Center for Internet Security (CIS) AWS Foundations Benchmark v1.4.0 recommends that IAM password policies enforce a minimum password length of at least 14 characters. This is to enhance security by making it more difficult to crack passwords.
Rule Description
A strong IAM password policy is crucial for safeguarding access to AWS services and resources. A password policy that requires a minimum length of 14 characters can significantly decrease the chance of unauthorized access resulting from brute force attacks or password guessing.
Troubleshooting Steps
If you're having trouble with setting up or enforcing IAM password policies, here are some common issues and their fixes:
- 1.
Policy Not Applying: Ensure that the password policy is correctly attached to the relevant IAM users or groups.
- 2.
Incorrect Minimum Length: Double-check that the minimum password length is set to 14 or greater.
- 3.
Users Unable to Set Passwords: Verify that IAM users have the necessary permissions to change their own passwords and that the IAM password policy doesn't have any conflicting rules.
Necessary Commands
To manage the IAM password policy, you can use the AWS Management Console or the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI).
Using AWS CLI:
First, ensure that you have installed AWS CLI and configured it with the necessary permissions.
Step 1: Retrieve Current IAM Password Policy
aws iam get-account-password-policy
Step 2: Update IAM Password Policy
To set or update the IAM password policy to require a minimum length of 14, use:
aws iam update-account-password-policy --minimum-password-length 14
This command updates the password policy to require at least 14 characters in the password.
Step by Step Guide for Remediation
Below are the steps to ensure that your IAM password policy meets the CIS v1.4.0 benchmark:
Step 1: Sign in to the AWS Management Console
Step 2: Navigate to IAM
- Open the IAM dashboard.
- Go to the left-hand menu, and click on "Account settings".
Step 3: Edit Password Policy
- Find the section on password policy.
- Click on "Change password policy".
Step 4: Configure Password Policy
- Set a checkmark in "Minimum password length" and type "14" or greater.
- Review other settings to comply with CIS benchmarks such as requiring specific character types.
- Click "Save changes".
After enforcing this IAM password policy, encourage all IAM users to update their passwords accordingly if they do not meet the new requirements.
Conclusion
Adherence to recognized security benchmarks such as CIS is a pillar of a robust cybersecurity strategy. Ensuring that your IAM password policy requires a minimum length of 14 characters is an essential component of following the AWS CIS v1.4.0 guidelines. Implementing and regularly auditing this policy helps to secure your AWS environment against unauthorized access. Remember, maintaining security is always an ongoing process, and keeping your policies in line with industry best practices is key to that endeavor.