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AC-7(3) AC · Access Control

Biometric Attempt Limiting

LOW MODERATE HIGH
1 Overlay 1 Related Control
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Limit the number of unsuccessful biometric logon attempts to [number].

Discussion (NIST Supplemental 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.

Implementation Guidance

Engineering Interpretation

Original engineering commentary written for this explorer — not NIST source text and not authoritative guidance.

No engineering interpretation has been authored for AC-7(3) yet. This section is architected to receive it — see the Requirements and Assessment sections above for the authoritative NIST source content in the meantime.

Assessment

NIST SP 800-53A REV 5.2.0

Assessment Objectives

  1. the number of unsuccessful biometric logon attempts is defined;
  2. unsuccessful biometric logon attempts are limited to <AC-07(03)_ODP number>.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Access control policy; procedures addressing unsuccessful logon attempts on biometric devices; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms implementing access control policy for unsuccessful logon attempts].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control AC-7 — see the AC-7(3) entries within each baseline below.

OT/ICS Overlay SP 800-82r3

NIST SP 800-82r3 Appendix F, Table 22. Blank baseline means the control/control enhancement is not selected in that initial OT baseline.

LOW

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

MODERATE

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

HIGH

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for AC-7(3). This section is architected to display, per product: STIG ID, Finding ID, Severity, Title, Description, Check, Fix, CCI, and NIST control mapping — but nothing is populated here until a real DISA STIG/CCI dataset is ingested.

Learn more about STIG/CCI integration →

Evidence

Potential Evidence — Derived

Categorized from the SP 800-53A "Examine"/"Test" artifact list above by keyword — not an authoritative NIST evidence list.

Policy

  • Access control policy
  • system security plan

Configuration

  • system design documentation
  • system configuration settings and associated documentation

Testing

  • Mechanisms implementing access control policy for unsuccessful logon attempts

Other Records

  • procedures addressing unsuccessful logon attempts on biometric devices
  • system audit records
  • other relevant documents or records