STIG ID: WN11-SO-000280 | SRG: SRG-OS-000076-GPOS-00044 | Severity: medium | CCI: | Vulnerability Id: V-253476
The longer a password is in use, the greater the opportunity for someone to gain unauthorized knowledge of the password. A local Administrator account is not generally used and its password may not be changed as frequently as necessary. Changing the password for enabled Administrator accounts on a regular basis will limit its exposure.
Windows LAPS must be used to change the built-in Administrator account password.
Change the enabled local Administrator account password at least every 60 days.
Windows LAPS must be used to change the built-in Administrator account password. Domain-joined and nondomain-joined systems can configure this to occur more frequently. LAPS will change the password every 30 days by default.
More information is available at:
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/by-popular-demand-windows-laps-available-now/ba-p/3788747
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/laps/laps-overview#windows-laps-supported-platforms-and-azure-ad-laps-preview-status
If there are no enabled local Administrator accounts, this is Not Applicable.
Review the password last set date for the enabled local Administrator account.
On the standalone or domain-joined workstation:
Open "PowerShell".
Enter "Get-LocalUser -Name * | Select-Object *".
If the "PasswordLastSet" date is greater than "60" days old for the local Administrator account for administering the computer/domain, this is a finding.
Verify LAPS is configured and operational.
Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> System >> LAPS >> Password Settings >> Set to enabled. Password Complexity, large letters + small letters + numbers + special, Password Length 14, Password Age 60. If not configured as shown, this is a finding.
Navigate to Local Computer Policy >> Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> System >> LAPS >> Password Settings >> Name of administrator Account to manage >> Set to enabled >> Administrator account name is populated. If it is not, this is a finding.
Verify LAPS Operational logs >> Event Viewer >> Applications and Services Logs >> Microsoft >> Windows >> LAPS >> Operational. Verify LAPS policy process is completing. If it is not, this is a finding.