Limit Password Resets: Security Boost

TL;DR

Allowing only one password reset per day significantly improves account security by making it harder for attackers to brute-force or automate attacks. It also reduces the load on your support team.

Why Limit Password Resets?

Attackers often try to guess passwords, and if they can repeatedly request resets, their chances increase. Limiting resets makes this much more difficult. It’s a simple but effective security measure.

How to Implement One Reset Per Day

1. Choose a Tracking Method: You need a way to record when a user last requested a password reset. Common options include:
   • Database Field: Add a timestamp field (e.g., last_reset_request) to your users table.
   • Cache: Use a caching system like Redis or Memcached to store the last reset time for each user. This is faster but less persistent than a database.
2. Modify Your Password Reset Request Function: This is where you’ll add the logic to check the reset limit.

   # Example Python (using datetime)

   from datetime import datetime, timedelta
   
   def request_password_reset(user):
       now = datetime.now()
       if user.last_reset_request and now - user.last_reset_request < timedelta(days=1):
           return False  # Reset requested too recently
       else:
           # Generate reset token, send email etc.
           user.last_reset_request = now
           save_user(user) # Save the timestamp to the database
           return True

3. Implement Error Handling: If a user tries to request a reset too soon, provide a clear and helpful error message.
   • Example Message: “You can only request one password reset per day. Please try again tomorrow.”
4. Consider Time Zones: Be mindful of time zones if your users are located globally. Store timestamps in UTC and convert to the user’s local time when checking the limit.
5. Logging: Log all password reset requests (successful and failed) for auditing purposes. This helps you identify potential attacks and monitor system activity.
6. Testing: Thoroughly test your implementation to ensure it works as expected.
   • Attempt multiple resets within a 24-hour period.
   • Verify that the error message is displayed correctly.
   • Confirm that successful resets are recorded properly.

Additional Security Considerations

• Rate Limiting: Implement rate limiting on your password reset endpoint to prevent abuse, even with the daily limit in place.
• Strong Password Policies: Enforce strong password policies (length, complexity) to make passwords harder to crack.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Encourage or require MFA for all users. This adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password.