Rule: Password Policies for IAM Users
Ensure strong configurations for IAM user password policies.
| Rule | Password policies for IAM users should have strong configurations |
| Framework | AWS Foundational Security Best Practices |
| Severity | ✔ Medium |
Password Policies for IAM Users: AWS Foundational Security Best Practices
Description:
Password policies for IAM (Identity and Access Management) users play a crucial role in maintaining the security of your AWS (Amazon Web Services) environment. By establishing strong configurations for password policies, you can ensure that users create and maintain strong passwords, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.
Troubleshooting Steps:
- 1.Assess the current password policy settings to identify any potential weaknesses or vulnerabilities.
- 2.Determine if there are any deviations from the recommended AWS Foundational Security Best Practices for password policies.
- 3.Verify if any existing IAM users have weak or non-compliant passwords that need to be updated.
- 4.Review any reported security incidents related to compromised passwords or unauthorized access.
Necessary Codes (AWS CLI):
The following AWS CLI command can help you retrieve the current password policy configuration:
aws iam get-account-password-policy
Step-by-Step Guide for Remediation:
1. Assess Current Password Policy Configuration:
- Run the following AWS CLI command to retrieve the current password policy:
aws iam get-account-password-policy
- Review the output to identify the existing password policy settings.
2. Configure Strong Password Policy:
- Update the password policy configuration by executing the following AWS CLI command:
aws iam update-account-password-policy --minimum-password-length 12 --require-symbols --require-uppercase-characters --require-lowercase-characters --require-numbers --allow-users-to-change-password
- Modify the command parameters as needed based on your security requirements.
3. Define Minimum Password Length:
- Determine the appropriate minimum password length for your organization.
- Set the minimum password length by modifying the following code in the previously mentioned command:
--minimum-password-length 12
- Replace "12" with the desired minimum password length.
4. Require Symbols, Uppercase and Lowercase Characters, and Numbers:
- In the same command, ensure that symbols, uppercase characters, lowercase characters, and numbers are required in passwords:
--require-symbols --require-uppercase-characters --require-lowercase-characters --require-numbers
- If any of these requirements are not necessary, remove the respective flag(s) from the command.
5. Allow Users to Change Passwords:
- To ensure users can change their passwords, enable the following flag in the command:
--allow-users-to-change-password
- This allows users to update their passwords based on the established policy.
6. Verify Password Policy Update:
- Run the following command to check if the password policy has been successfully updated:
aws iam get-account-password-policy
- Review the output to confirm the new password policy configuration.
Conclusion:
By following these steps, you can establish and configure strong password policies for IAM users in accordance with the AWS Foundational Security Best Practices. Regularly reviewing and updating password policies helps enhance the security of your AWS environment, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.