Amazon Linux 2023 must configure the use of the pam_faillock.so module in the /etc/pam.d/system-auth file.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-274186 | AZLX-23-002620 | SV-274186r1120546_rule | CCI-000044 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| If the pam_faillock.so module is not loaded, the system will not correctly lockout accounts to prevent password guessing attacks. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Amazon Linux 2023 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-02-27 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-274186r1120546_chk)
Verify Amazon Linux 2023 is configured so that the pam_faillock.so module is present in the "/etc/pam.d/system-auth" file:
$ grep pam_faillock.so /etc/pam.d/system-auth
auth required pam_faillock.so preauth
auth required pam_faillock.so authfail
account required pam_faillock.so
If the pam_faillock.so module is not present in the "/etc/pam.d/system-auth" file with the "preauth" line listed before pam_unix.so, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-78182r1120545_fix)
Configure Amazon Linux 2023 to include the use of the pam_faillock.so module in the /etc/pam.d/system-auth file.
Add/modify the appropriate sections of the "/etc/pam.d/system-auth" file to match the following lines:
Note: The "preauth" line must be listed before pam_unix.so.
auth required pam_faillock.so preauth
auth required pam_faillock.so authfail
account required pam_faillock.so