Title

The DBMS must obscure feedback of authentication information during the authentication process to protect the information from possible exploitation/use by unauthorized individuals. (Cat I impact)

Discussion

The DoD standard for authentication is DoD-approved PKI certificates. Normally, with PKI authentication, the interaction with the user for authentication will be handled by a software component separate from the DBMS, such as ActivIdentity ActivClient. However, in cases where the DBMS controls the interaction, this requirement applies. To prevent the compromise of authentication information such as passwords and PINs during the authentication process, the feedback from the system must not provide any information that would allow an unauthorized user to compromise the authentication mechanism. Obfuscation of user-provided authentication secrets when typed into the system is a method used in addressing this risk. Displaying asterisks when a user types in a password or a smart card PIN is an example of obscuring feedback of authentication secrets. This calls for review of applications, which will require collaboration with the application developers. It is recognized that in many cases, the database administrator (DBA) is organizationally separate from the application developers, and may have limited, if any, access to source code. Nevertheless, protections of this type are so important to the secure operation of databases that they must not be ignored. At a minimum, the DBA must attempt to obtain assurances from the development organization that this issue has been addressed, and must document what has been discovered.

Check Content

If all interaction with the user for purposes of authentication is handled by a software component separate from the DBMS, this is not a finding. If any application, tool or feature associated with the DBMS/database displays any authentication secrets (to include PINs and passwords) during - or after - the authentication process, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Modify and configure each non-compliant application, tool, or feature associated with the DBMS/database so that it does not display authentication secrets.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-206561r879615_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-206561

Group Title: SRG-APP-000178

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

Controls tied to check. These are derived from the CCIs shown above.