ia-5-8-multiple-system-accounts

name	IA-5(8)_multiple-system-accounts
description	Implement [organization-defined] to manage the risk of compromise due to individuals having accounts on multiple systems.
category	authentication
version	5.2.0
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["nist","sp800-53","rev5","ia-5-8","ia","enhancement"]
tech_stack	["aws","azure","active-directory","linux","windows"]
cwe_ids	["CWE-287"]
chains_with	["PS-6"]
prerequisites	["IA-5"]
severity_boost	{"PS-6":"Chain with PS-6 for comprehensive security coverage"}

IA-5(8) Multiple System Accounts

Enhancement of: IA-5

High-Level Description

Family: Identification and Authentication (IA) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

When individuals have accounts on multiple systems and use the same authenticators such as passwords, there is the risk that a compromise of one account may lead to the compromise of other accounts. Alternative approaches include having different authenticators (passwords) on all systems, employing a single sign-on or federation mechanism, or using some form of one-time passwords on all systems. Organizations can also use rules of behavior (see PL-4 ) and access agreements (see PS-6 ) to mitigate the risk of multiple system accounts.

What to Check

• Verify IA-5(8) Multiple System Accounts is documented in SSP
• Confirm control is operating effectively
• Review evidence of continuous monitoring for IA-5(8)
• Verify enhancement builds upon base control IA-5

How to Test

Step 1: Review Documentation

Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for IA-5(8) 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 authentication settings	cloud_audit_iam_policies
hackbrowser-mcp	Test authentication mechanisms	browser_auth_test

Remediation Guide

Control Statement

Implement [organization-defined] to manage the risk of compromise due to individuals having accounts on multiple systems.

Implementation Guidance