Amazon Linux 2023 Security Technical Implementation Guide

The Amazon Linux 2023 Security Technical Implementation Guide (V1 R5) has 187 STIG checks. New to STIG checklists? Read What is a STIG checklist?, CKL vs CKLB, and STIG vs SCAP benchmark.

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Severity

Version

V1 · R5

CurrentPublished Wed Sep 30 2026

Amazon Linux 2023 must automatically lock an account when three unsuccessful logon attempts occur.

Amazon Linux 2023 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Assessment Title

Rule Text

Amazon Linux 2023 must automatically lock an account when three unsuccessful logon attempts occur.

Description

Discussion Text

By limiting the number of failed logon attempts, the risk of unauthorized system access via user password guessing, otherwise known as brute-forcing, is reduced. Limits are imposed by locking the account.

New to STIG checklists? Read What is a STIG checklist? and CKL vs CKLB.

Objective

V-274154

Rule

SV-274154r1120450_rule

Severity

medium

Rule Version

AZLX-23-002455

Documentable

false

IA Controls

NIST SP 800-53

Rev 5

Assessment Procedure

Check Text

Verify Amazon Linux 2023 is configured to lock an account after three unsuccessful logon attempts with the command:

$ grep 'deny =' /etc/security/faillock.conf
deny = 3

If the "deny" option is not set to "3" or less (but not "0"), is missing or commented out, this is a finding.

Implementation Procedure

Fix Text

Configure Amazon Linux 2023 to lock an account when three unsuccessful logon attempts occur.

Add/modify the "/etc/security/faillock.conf" file to match the following line:

deny = 3

STIG check 151 of 187 in the Amazon Linux 2023 STIG checklist

← Previous · V-274153Amazon Linux 2023 must use a Linux Security Module configured to enforce limits on system services.Next · V-274155 →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.