STIGQter: STIG Summary: Cloud Linux AlmaLinux OS 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 7 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

AlmaLinux OS 9 must automatically lock the root account until the root account is released by an administrator when three unsuccessful logon attempts occur during a 15-minute time period.

DISA Rule

SV-269148r1050030_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-269148

Group Title

SRG-OS-000021-GPOS-00005

Rule Version

ALMA-09-007610

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-000044 - Enforce the organization-defined limit of consecutive invalid logon attempts by a user during the organization-defined time period.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure AlmaLinux OS 9 to lock the root account after a number of incorrect login attempts using pam_faillock.

First, enable the feature using the following command:

$ authselect enable-feature with-faillock

Then, add or uncomment the following line in the "/etc/security/faillock.conf" file:

even_deny_root

Check Contents

Verify AlmaLinux OS 9 is configured to lock the root account after three unsuccessful logon attempts with the command:

$ grep even_deny_root /etc/security/faillock.conf

even_deny_root

If the "even_deny_root" option is not set, is missing, or is commented out, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-269148

Documentable

False

Rule Version

ALMA-09-007610

Severity Override Guidance

Verify AlmaLinux OS 9 is configured to lock the root account after three unsuccessful logon attempts with the command:

$ grep even_deny_root /etc/security/faillock.conf

even_deny_root

If the "even_deny_root" option is not set, is missing, or is commented out, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5664