RE: Minimum password requirements

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To: <gillettdavid@fhda.edu>, "'Randall M Gunning'" <securityfocus@randygunning.com>, <security-basics@securityfocus.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 requirements
>
> > b. 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 and
> must not be
> > shared 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 not
> > have any confidential data on them). What are other people
> doing for
> > this type of standard, if anything? Also, if you had your
> choice (not
> > subject to a committee agreeing), what would you choose for these
> > items?
> >
> > Please let me know if you have any questions.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Randy
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> --------------
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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any course! All of our class sizes are guaranteed to be 10 students or less
to facilitate one-on-one interaction with one of our expert 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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• Previous message: dave kleiman: "RE: Minimum password requirements"
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