Title

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

Discussion

To prevent the compromise of authentication information, such as passwords during the authentication process, the feedback from the operating system shall not provide any information allowing an unauthorized user to compromise the authentication mechanism. Obfuscation of user-provided information that is typed into the system is a method used when addressing this risk. For example, displaying asterisks when a user types in a password is an example of obscuring feedback of authentication information.

Check Content

Verify the operating system obscures feedback of authentication information during the authentication process to protect the information from possible exploitation/use by unauthorized individuals. If it does not, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the operating system to obscure feedback of authentication information during the authentication process to protect the information from possible exploitation/use by unauthorized individuals.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-203635r557631_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-203635

Group Title: SRG-OS-000079

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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