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IA.2.082
Content
Control Acronym
IA
Family
Identification And Authentication
CMMC Level
2
800-171 Control #
3.5.11
CMMC Description
Obscure feedback of authentication information.
CMMC Clarification
A password is a type of authentication information. When users enter this information, the system displays a symbol, such as an asterisk. This prevents others from seeing the actual characters. The organization should obscure feedback based on a defined policy. For example, smaller devices may briefly show characters before obscuring. Example You are in charge of IT for your company. You set up your systems to display a symbol, such as an asterisk, when users enter their passwords into a computer system. For your mobile devices, the password characters are briefly displayed to the user before being obscured. This prevents people from figuring out passwords by looking over someone’s shoulder.
800-171 Description
Obscure feedback of authentication information.
800-171 Discussion
The feedback from systems does not provide any information that would allow unauthorized individuals to compromise authentication mechanisms. For some types of systems or system components, for example, desktop or notebook computers with relatively large monitors, the threat (often referred to as shoulder surfing) may be significant. For other types of systems or components, for example, mobile devices with small displays, this threat may be less significant, and is balanced against the increased likelihood of typographic input errors due to the small keyboards. Therefore, the means for obscuring the authenticator feedback is selected accordingly. Obscuring authenticator feedback includes displaying asterisks when users type passwords into input devices or displaying feedback for a very limited time before fully obscuring it.
Other Source Discussion
N/A
CIS Control References
NIST 800-53 Control Ref.
NIST SP 800-53 Rev 4 IA-6
CMMC Derived
NIST CSF Control References
NIST 800-171 References
NIST SP 800-171 Rev 1 3.5.11
Applicable FAR Clause
NIST CSF Control Reference
NIST CSF v1.1 PR.AC-1
CERT RMM Reference
Modification of NIST 800-171B Reference
NIST 800-171B Reference
UK NCSCCyber Reference
AS ACSC Reference
Sub-Criterias
Assessment Sub-Criteria 1
IA.2.082.[a] authentication information is obscured during the authentication process.