DISCUSSION [NIST SP 800-171 R2]

Authentication processes resist replay attacks if it is impractical to successfully authenticate by recording or replaying previous authentication messages. Replay-resistant techniques include protocols that use nonces or challenges such as time synchronous or challenge response one-time authenticators.

NIST SP 800-63-3 provides guidance on digital identities.

FURTHER DISCUSSION

When insecure protocols are used for access to computing resources, an adversary may be able to capture login information and immediately reuse (replay) it for other purposes. It is important to use mechanisms that resist this technique.

Example

To protect your IT infrastructure, you understand that the methods for authentication must not be easily copied and re-sent to your systems by an adversary. You select Kerberos for authentication because of its built-in resistance to replay attacks. As a next step you upgrade all of your web applications to require Transport layer Security (TLS), which also is replay resistant. Your use of MFA to protect remote access also confers some replay resistance.

Potential Considerations

Are only anti-replay authentication mechanisms used [a]?39

Copyright

Copyright 2020, 2021 Carnegie Mellon University and The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC.

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This material is based upon work funded and supported by the Department of Defense under Contract No. FA8702-15-D-0002 with Carnegie Mellon University for the operation of the Software Engineering Institute, a federally funded research and development center, and under Contract No. HQ0034-13-D-0003 and Contract No. N00024-13-D-6400 with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC, a University Affiliated Research Center.

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