The macOS system must limit consecutive failed login attempts to three.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-268428 | APPL-15-000022 | SV-268428r1034224_rule | CCI-000044 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| The macOS must be configured to limit the number of failed login attempts to a maximum of three. When the maximum number of failed attempts is reached, the account must be locked for a period of time. This rule protects against malicious users attempting to gain access to the system via brute-force hacking methods. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000021-GPOS-00005, SRG-OS-000329-GPOS-00128 | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Apple macOS 15 (Sequoia) Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2025-05-05 | |||
Related Frameworks
3 paths across 3 frameworks
Related Frameworks
NIST 800-531 mapping
AC-7
1.00
- DISA · 1 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
NIST 800-1711 mapping
3.1.8
1.00
- DISA · 1 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
CCI1 mapping
CCI-000044
1.00
- DISA · 1 · disa_xccdf · related
Details
Check Text (C-268428r1034224_chk)
Verify the macOS system is configured to limit consecutive failed login attempts to three with the following command:
/usr/bin/pwpolicy -getaccountpolicies 2> /dev/null | /usr/bin/tail +2 | /usr/bin/xmllint --xpath '//dict/key[text()="policyAttributeMaximumFailedAuthentications"]/following-sibling::integer[1]/text()' - | /usr/bin/awk '{ if ($1 <= 3) {print "yes"} else {print "no"}}'
If the result is not "yes", this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-72359r1034223_fix)
Configure the macOS system to limit consecutive failed login attempts to three by installing the "com.apple.mobiledevice.passwordpolicy" configuration profile or by a directory service.