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IA-5(7) IA · Identification and Authentication

No Embedded Unencrypted Static Authenticators

LOW MODERATE HIGH
1 Overlay 0 Related Controls
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Ensure that unencrypted static authenticators are not embedded in applications or other forms of static storage.

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

In addition to applications, other forms of static storage include access scripts and function keys. Organizations exercise caution when determining whether embedded or stored authenticators are in encrypted or unencrypted form. If authenticators are used in the manner stored, then those representations are considered unencrypted authenticators.

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(7) 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. unencrypted static authenticators are not embedded in applications or other forms of static storage.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Identification and authentication policy; system security plan; procedures addressing authenticator management; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; logical access scripts; application code reviews for detecting unencrypted static authenticators; 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 authenticator management capability; mechanisms implementing authentication in applications].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control IA-5 — see the IA-5(7) 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(7). 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
  • system security plan

Configuration

  • system design documentation
  • system configuration settings and associated documentation

Testing

  • Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing authenticator management capability
  • mechanisms implementing authentication in applications

Other Records

  • procedures addressing authenticator management
  • logical access scripts
  • application code reviews for detecting unencrypted static authenticators
  • other relevant documents or records