OSVDB ID: 754 Title: User Account Policy Account Has Never Logged In |
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Description |
Some system administrators issue user accounts that end up never being used. A strong user account policy will make periodic checks for such accounts and delete them. These accounts can be a security concern as they provide an attacker with a significant advantage in brute force attacks. As users log onto a system, there is typically a message indicating where the last login was from, and/or how many failed login attempts there were before authenticating. If a user notices hundreds or thousands of failed login attempts, they can warn the administrator of suspicious activity. If a user account exists but is not used by anyone, such attacks may go unnoticed. As such, it is ideal if unused accounts or not only locked out, but deleted completely. |
Classification |
Location:
Local Access Required,
Remote/Network Access Required
Attack Type: Authentication Management Impact: Loss of Confidentiality, Loss of Integrity Exploit: Exploit Available Disclosure: OSVDB Verified OSVDB: Best Practice |
Solution |
Administrators should maintain a strong user account policy which includes deleting unused accounts. |
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Credit |
Unknown or Incomplete |