cyberstrikeus AC-7(3) Biometric Attempt Limiting
Enhancement of: AC-7
High-Level Description
Family: Access Control (AC) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Biometrics are probabilistic in nature. The ability to successfully authenticate can be impacted by many factors, including matching performance and presentation attack detection mechanisms. Organizations select the appropriate number of attempts for users based on organizationally-defined factors.
What to Check
- Verify AC-7(3) Biometric Attempt Limiting is documented in SSP
- Confirm control is operating effectively
- Review evidence of continuous monitoring for AC-7(3)
- Verify enhancement builds upon base control AC-7
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for AC-7(3) implementation details. Verify the organization has documented how this control is satisfied.
Step 2: Validate Implementation
# For cloud environments, use cloud-audit-mcp tools
# For on-premises, review system configurations directly
# Example: Check if account management policies exist
grep -r "account.management\|access.control" /etc/security/ 2>/dev/null
Step 3: Test Operating Effectiveness
Verify the control is actively functioning, not just documented. Check logs, configurations, and operational evidence.
Tools
| Tool | Purpose | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| cloud-audit-mcp | Check IAM policies and access controls | cloud_audit_iam_policies |
| hackbrowser | Test web application access controls | hackbrowser |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Limit the number of unsuccessful biometric logon attempts to [organization-defined].
Implementation Guidance
Biometrics are probabilistic in nature. The ability to successfully authenticate can be impacted by many factors, including matching performance and presentation attack detection mechanisms. Organizations select the appropriate number of attempts for users based on organizationally-defined factors.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| AC-7(3) Biometric Attempt Limiting not implemented | High | Access Control |
| AC-7(3) partially implemented | Medium | Incomplete Access Control |
CWE Categories
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|---|
| CWE-284 | Improper Access Control |
References
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - AC-7(3)
- NIST SP 800-53A Rev 5 (Assessment Procedures)
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 Full Catalog
Checklist
- Control documented in SSP
- Implementation evidence collected
- Operating effectiveness validated
- Continuous monitoring in place
- Related controls (IA-3) reviewed