← IA-5
IA-5(1) IA · Identification and Authentication

Password-based Authentication

✓ LOW ✓ MODERATE ✓ HIGH
1 Overlay 1 Related Control
Graph
Export ▾

Requirements NIST SOURCE

For password-based authentication:

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Password-based authentication applies to passwords regardless of whether they are used in single-factor or multi-factor authentication. Long passwords or passphrases are preferable over shorter passwords. Enforced composition rules provide marginal security benefits while decreasing usability. However, organizations may choose to establish certain rules for password generation (e.g., minimum character length for long passwords) under certain circumstances and can enforce this requirement in IA-5(1)(h). Account recovery can occur, for example, in situations when a password is forgotten. Cryptographically protected passwords include salted one-way cryptographic hashes of passwords. The list of commonly used, compromised, or expected passwords includes passwords obtained from previous breach corpuses, dictionary words, and repetitive or sequential characters. The list includes context-specific words, such as the name of the service, username, and derivatives thereof.

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 IA-5(1) 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 frequency at which to update the list of commonly used, expected, or compromised passwords is defined;
  2. authenticator composition and complexity rules are defined;
  3. for password-based authentication, a list of commonly used, expected, or compromised passwords is maintained and updated <IA-05(01)_ODP[01] frequency> and when organizational passwords are suspected to have been compromised directly or indirectly;
  4. for password-based authentication when passwords are created or updated by users, the passwords are verified not to be found on the list of commonly used, expected, or compromised passwords in IA-05(01)(a);
  5. for password-based authentication, passwords are only transmitted over cryptographically protected channels;
  6. for password-based authentication, passwords are stored using an approved salted key derivation function, preferably using a keyed hash;
  7. for password-based authentication, immediate selection of a new password is required upon account recovery;
  8. for password-based authentication, user selection of long passwords and passphrases is allowed, including spaces and all printable characters;
  9. for password-based authentication, automated tools are employed to assist the user in selecting strong password authenticators;
  10. for password-based authentication, <IA-05(01)_ODP[02] composition and complexity rules> are enforced.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Identification and authentication policy; password policy; procedures addressing authenticator management; system security plan; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; password configurations and associated documentation; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with authenticator management responsibilities; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system/network administrators; system developers].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing password-based authenticator management capability].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control IA-5 — see the IA-5(1) 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)
  • Included: (1)

MODERATE

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1) (2) (6)

HIGH

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1) (2) (6)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for IA-5(1). 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

  • Identification and authentication policy
  • password policy
  • system security plan

Configuration

  • system design documentation
  • system configuration settings and associated documentation

Testing

  • Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing password-based authenticator management capability

Other Records

  • procedures addressing authenticator management
  • password configurations and associated documentation
  • other relevant documents or records