Ensure IAM Password Policy Requires a Minimum Length of 14 or Greater
This rule ensures that the IAM password policy enforces a minimum length of 14 characters or more.
| Rule | Ensure IAM password policy requires a minimum length of 14 or greater |
| Framework | FedRAMP Moderate Revision 4 |
| Severity | ✔ Critical |
Ensure IAM Password Policy Requires a Minimum Length of 14 or Greater for FedRAMP Moderate Revision 4
Background
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is a government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services. The Moderate impact level, Revision 4, includes guidelines for Identity and Access Management (IAM), among other things. Specifically, it mandates that IAM passwords must have a minimum length of 14 characters to ensure strong credential security.
Password Policy Configuration
Step 1: Access IAM Dashboard
- 1.Log in to the AWS Management Console.
- 2.Navigate to the IAM dashboard by searching for IAM in the services search bar or by finding it under Security, Identity, & Compliance on the Services menu.
Step 2: Edit Password Policy
- 1.In the IAM dashboard, click on "Account settings."
- 2.Scroll down to find the "Password Policy" section.
Step 3: Set Password Length
- 1.Click on "Change Password Policy."
- 2.Check the box next to "Minimum password length."
- 3.Enter "14" as the minimum number of characters.
Step 4: Save the Changes
- 1.Click "Apply password policy" to save the changes.
Troubleshooting Password Policy Issues
Issue 1: Policy not updating
If you're unable to save the password policy, ensure:
- You have the necessary permissions to modify the IAM password policy.
- There are no service interruptions or network issues.
Issue 2: Users can't change passwords
If users are unable to change their passwords after the policy update, check:
- That their new passwords meet the new password policy requirements.
- Whether they have the "IAMUserChangePassword" permission if they are changing their own passwords.
AWS CLI Command
To update the password policy using the AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI), you can use the
update-account-password-policyaws iam update-account-password-policy \ --minimum-password-length 14 \ --require-symbols \ --require-numbers \ --require-uppercase-characters \ --require-lowercase-characters \ --allow-users-to-change-password \ --hard-expiry
This command sets the minimum password length to 14 and includes other password requirements.
Remediation
If users have passwords that don't comply with the updated policy, they will need to be guided to reset their passwords. They can do this at their next login or by initiating a password reset from the IAM console or a custom password reset tool.
Ensure all documentation, training materials, and user communication reflect the updated password policy to minimize confusion and support queries.
SEO and User Guidance
By adhering to FedRAMP Moderate Revision 4 requirements, organizations not only align with federal standards but also promote stronger security practices. This detailed guide provides the necessary steps for AWS administrators to update their IAM password policies to meet stipulated compliance requirements, ensuring adherence to robust security protocols.
Conclusion
Updating the IAM password policy to require a minimum length of 14 characters is a critical step towards achieving FedRAMP compliance and securing AWS resources. System administrators should monitor the IAM dashboard for policy compliance and user adherence continuously, ensuring that password management is an integral part of their security framework.