Amazon Linux 2023 must enforce a delay of at least four seconds between logon prompts following a failed logon attempt.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-274144 | AZLX-23-002405 | SV-274144r1120420_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| Increasing the time between a failed authentication attempt and re-prompting to enter credentials helps to slow a single-threaded brute force attack. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Amazon Linux 2023 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-02-27 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-274144r1120420_chk)
Verify Amazon Linux 2023 enforces a delay of at least four seconds between console logon prompts following a failed logon attempt with the following command:
$ sudo grep -i fail_delay /etc/login.defs
FAIL_DELAY 4
If the value of "FAIL_DELAY" is not set to "4" or greater, the line is commented out, or the line is missing, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-78140r1120419_fix)
Configure Amazon Linux 2023 to enforce a delay of at least four seconds between logon prompts following a failed console logon attempt.
Modify the "/etc/login.defs" file to set the "FAIL_DELAY" parameter to "4" or greater:
FAIL_DELAY 4