The mobile operating system must be configured to not allow more than ten consecutive failed authentication attempts.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-228732	AIOS-14-000400	SV-228732r561031_rule		Medium

Description
The more attempts an adversary has to guess a password, the more likely the adversary will enter the correct password and gain access to resources on the device. Setting a limit on the number of attempts mitigates this risk. Setting the limit at ten or less gives authorized users the ability to make a few mistakes when entering the password but still provides adequate protection against dictionary or brute force attacks on the password. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #2c, FIA_AFL_EXT.1.5

Description

The more attempts an adversary has to guess a password, the more likely the adversary will enter the correct password and gain access to resources on the device. Setting a limit on the number of attempts mitigates this risk. Setting the limit at ten or less gives authorized users the ability to make a few mistakes when entering the password but still provides adequate protection against dictionary or brute force attacks on the password. SFR ID: FMT_SMF_EXT.1.1 #2c, FIA_AFL_EXT.1.5

STIG	Date
Apple iOS/iPadOS 14 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2021-05-25

Details

Check Text ( C-30967r509824_chk )
Review configuration settings to confirm that consecutive failed authentication attempts is set to 10 or fewer. This procedure is performed in the Apple iOS/iPadOS management tool and on the iPhone and iPad. Note: If an organization has multiple configuration profiles, the check procedure must be performed on the relevant configuration profiles applicable to the scope of the review. In the Management tool, verify the "Maximum number of failed attempts" value is set to 10 or fewer. Alternatively, verify the text "maxFailedAttempts 10" appears in the configuration profile (.mobileconfig file). It also is acceptable for the integer value to be less than 10. On the iPhone and iPad: 1. Open the Settings app. 2. Tap "General". 3. Tap "Profiles & Device Management" or "Profiles". 4. Tap the Configuration Profile from the iOS management tool containing the password policy. 5. Tap "Restrictions". 6. Tap "Passcode". 7. Verify "Max failed attempts" is listed as "10" or fewer. If the "Maximum number of failed attempts" is more than 10 in the iOS management tool, "maxFailedAttempts " has an integer value of more than 10, or the password policy on the iPhone and iPad does not list "Max failed attempts" of ten or fewer, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-30967r509824_chk )

Review configuration settings to confirm that consecutive failed authentication attempts is set to 10 or fewer.

This procedure is performed in the Apple iOS/iPadOS management tool and on the iPhone and iPad.

Note: If an organization has multiple configuration profiles, the check procedure must be performed on the relevant configuration profiles applicable to the scope of the review.

In the Management tool, verify the "Maximum number of failed attempts" value is set to 10 or fewer.

Alternatively, verify the text "maxFailedAttempts 10" appears in the configuration profile (.mobileconfig file). It also is acceptable for the integer value to be less than 10.

On the iPhone and iPad:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap "General".
3. Tap "Profiles & Device Management" or "Profiles".
4. Tap the Configuration Profile from the iOS management tool containing the password policy.
5. Tap "Restrictions".
6. Tap "Passcode".
7. Verify "Max failed attempts" is listed as "10" or fewer.

If the "Maximum number of failed attempts" is more than 10 in the iOS management tool, "maxFailedAttempts " has an integer value of more than 10, or the password policy on the iPhone and iPad does not list "Max failed attempts" of ten or fewer, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-30944r509825_fix)
Install a configuration profile to allow only ten or fewer consecutive failed authentication attempts.