STIGQter: STIG Summary: Amazon Linux 2023 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 4 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

Amazon Linux 2023 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-274155r1120453_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-274155

Group Title

SRG-OS-000329-GPOS-00128

Rule Version

AZLX-23-002460

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-002238 - Automatically lock the account or node for either an organization-defined time period, until the locked account or node is released by an administrator, or delays the next logon prompt according to the organization-defined delay algorithm when the maximum number of unsuccessful logon attempts is exceeded.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure Amazon Linux 2023 to lock out the "root" account after a number of incorrect login attempts using "pam_faillock.so", first enable the feature using the following command:

$ sudo authselect enable-feature with-faillock

Then edit the "/etc/security/faillock.conf" file as follows:

add or uncomment the following line:
even_deny_root

Check Contents

Verify Amazon Linux 2023 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 commented out, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-274155

Documentable

False

Rule Version

AZLX-23-002460

Severity Override Guidance

Verify Amazon Linux 2023 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 commented out, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5700