IA-8(1) Acceptance of PIV Credentials from Other Agencies
Enhancement of: IA-8
High-Level Description
Family: Identification and Authentication (IA) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Acceptance of Personal Identity Verification (PIV) credentials from other federal agencies applies to both logical and physical access control systems. PIV credentials are those credentials issued by federal agencies that conform to FIPS Publication 201 and supporting guidelines. The adequacy and reliability of PIV card issuers are addressed and authorized using SP 800-79-2.
What to Check
- Verify IA-8(1) Acceptance of PIV Credentials from Other Agencies is documented in SSP
- Confirm control is operating effectively
- Review evidence of continuous monitoring for IA-8(1)
- Verify enhancement builds upon base control IA-8
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for IA-8(1) 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
Accept and electronically verify Personal Identity Verification-compliant credentials from other federal agencies.
Implementation Guidance
Acceptance of Personal Identity Verification (PIV) credentials from other federal agencies applies to both logical and physical access control systems. PIV credentials are those credentials issued by federal agencies that conform to FIPS Publication 201 and supporting guidelines. The adequacy and reliability of PIV card issuers are addressed and authorized using SP 800-79-2.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| IA-8(1) Acceptance of PIV Credentials from Other Agencies not implemented | High | Identification and Authentication |
| IA-8(1) partially implemented | Medium | Incomplete Identification and Authentication |
CWE Categories
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|---|
| CWE-287 | Improper Authentication |
References
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - IA-8(1)
- 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 (PE-3) reviewed