ac-11-1-pattern-hiding-displays

name	AC-11(1)_pattern-hiding-displays
description	Conceal, via the device lock, information previously visible on the display with a publicly viewable image.
category	authorization
version	5.2.0
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["nist","sp800-53","rev5","ac-11-1","ac","enhancement"]
tech_stack	["aws","azure","gcp","linux","windows"]
cwe_ids	["CWE-284"]
chains_with	[]
prerequisites	["AC-11"]
severity_boost	{}

AC-11(1) Pattern-hiding Displays

Enhancement of: AC-11

High-Level Description

Family: Access Control (AC) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

The pattern-hiding display can include static or dynamic images, such as patterns used with screen savers, photographic images, solid colors, clock, battery life indicator, or a blank screen with the caveat that controlled unclassified information is not displayed.

What to Check

• Verify AC-11(1) Pattern-hiding Displays is documented in SSP
• Confirm control is operating effectively
• Review evidence of continuous monitoring for AC-11(1)
• Verify enhancement builds upon base control AC-11

How to Test

Step 1: Review Documentation

Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for AC-11(1) implementation details. Verify the organization has documented how this control is satisfied.

Step 2: Validate Implementation

# For cloud environments, use cloud-audit-mcp tools
# For on-premises, review system configurations directly

# Example: Check if account management policies exist
grep -r "account.management\|access.control" /etc/security/ 2>/dev/null

Step 3: Test Operating Effectiveness

Verify the control is actively functioning, not just documented. Check logs, configurations, and operational evidence.

Tools

Tool	Purpose	Usage
cloud-audit-mcp	Check IAM policies and access controls	cloud_audit_iam_policies
hackbrowser-mcp	Test web application access controls	browser_auth_test

Remediation Guide

Control Statement

Conceal, via the device lock, information previously visible on the display with a publicly viewable image.

Implementation Guidance

The pattern-hiding display can include static or dynamic images, such as patterns used with screen savers, photographic images, solid colors, clock, battery life indicator, or a blank screen with the caveat that controlled unclassified information is not displayed.

Risk Assessment