cyberstrikeus IA-2(8) Access to Accounts — Replay Resistant
Enhancement of: IA-2
High-Level Description
Family: Identification and Authentication (IA) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Authentication processes resist replay attacks if it is impractical to achieve successful authentications by replaying previous authentication messages. Replay-resistant techniques include protocols that use nonces or challenges such as time synchronous or cryptographic authenticators.
What to Check
- Verify IA-2(8) Access to Accounts — Replay Resistant is documented in SSP
- Confirm control is operating effectively
- Review evidence of continuous monitoring for IA-2(8)
- Verify enhancement builds upon base control IA-2
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for IA-2(8) 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 authentication settings | cloud_audit_iam_policies |
| hackbrowser | Test authentication mechanisms | hackbrowser |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Implement replay-resistant authentication mechanisms for access to [organization-defined].
Implementation Guidance
Authentication processes resist replay attacks if it is impractical to achieve successful authentications by replaying previous authentication messages. Replay-resistant techniques include protocols that use nonces or challenges such as time synchronous or cryptographic authenticators.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| IA-2(8) Access to Accounts — Replay Resistant not implemented | High | Identification and Authentication |
| IA-2(8) partially implemented | Medium | Incomplete Identification and Authentication |
CWE Categories
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|---|
| CWE-287 | Improper Authentication |
References
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - IA-2(8)
- 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 (none) reviewed