---
title: "NIST 800-171 3.5.11 (IA.L2-3.5.11): Obscured Feedback"
description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.5.11 Obscured Feedback: 1 SPRS point, allowed on a CMMC POA&M. The text, what assessors check and the evidence."
url: https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/identification-and-authentication/3.5.11
sealed: 2026-11-11
amended: 2026-11-11
register: nist-800-171/identification-and-authentication/3.5.11
records: 7
digest: sha3:df4d45fc426e5675a4a12dbccf3dd6c8e5d06f671e1ad01442cd57a6c1dd67aa
---

# NIST 800-171 3.5.11 (IA.L2-3.5.11): Obscured Feedback

NIST 800-171 / Identification and Authentication / 3.5.11

"Obscure feedback of authentication information." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.5.11](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2))

CMMC Level 2 practice IA.L2-3.5.11.

## What 3.5.11 means in practice

Sign-in screens hide what is typed, showing dots or asterisks instead of the password, so nobody looking over a shoulder can read it. Most products do this by default; check custom applications, kiosks and devices that might echo credentials.

## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

- **CMMC Level 2 practice**: IA.L2-3.5.11
- **SPRS points**: 1 point. When it is not met, the DoD Assessment Methodology subtracts 1 from the score of 110.
- **CMMC POA&M**: Allowed. It is worth 1 point, and 32 CFR 170.21(a)(2)(ii) admits requirements worth 1 point. Conditional status also needs a score of at least 88, and the item must be closed within 180 days.

Sources: [NIST SP 800-171 DoD Assessment Methodology, version 1.2.1 (June 24, 2020), Annex A](https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/dpc/cp/cyber/docs/safeguarding/NIST-SP-800-171-Assessment-Methodology-Version-1.2.1-6.24.2020.pdf); [32 CFR 170.21, Plan of Action and Milestones requirements](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-32/section-170.21).

## What an assessor checks for 3.5.11

NIST SP 800-171A gives one determination statement for 3.5.11.

- Determine if authentication information is obscured during the authentication process.

[NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.5.11](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A)

## Evidence that shows 3.5.11 is met

- Screenshots of sign-in screens showing masked password entry.
- Configuration or code review results for the login forms of custom applications.

## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

No PolicyCortex collector reads the evidence for 3.5.11. Your team provides the evidence listed above.

## Related pages

- **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.5.11 and the other 109 requirements and see the score.](https://policycortex.com/sprs-score-calculator#family-IA)
- **Sample package**: [Sample package: an SSP, a POA&M and an evidence chain the product generated from demonstration data.](https://policycortex.com/sample-package)
- **Family**: [All 11 Identification and Authentication requirements (3.5).](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/identification-and-authentication)
- **Previous**: [3.5.10: Protected Passwords](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/identification-and-authentication/3.5.10)
- **Next**: [3.6.1: Incident Handling](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/incident-response/3.6.1)
- **All requirements**: [All 110 NIST SP 800-171 requirements, by family.](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171)

Meet the requirement once. Keep the evidence current. [Request Access](https://app.policycortex.com/auth?mode=request-access) · [Book a call](https://policycortex.com/book)

## Register colophon

| Seq | Label | SHA3-256 | Prev |
|---|---|---|---|
| REC 0000 | REQUIREMENT | 3c912a623f0a | b6dc030f34a3 |
| REC 0001 | MEANING | d0337bb4cff6 | 3c912a623f0a |
| REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | 27b1c7c74309 | d0337bb4cff6 |
| REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | 02317bae7a94 | 27b1c7c74309 |
| REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | cc31c12580e5 | 02317bae7a94 |
| REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | 7e870dfecdc0 | cc31c12580e5 |
| REC 0006 | RELATED | df4d45fc426e | 7e870dfecdc0 |

Head sha3:df4d45fc426e5675a4a12dbccf3dd6c8e5d06f671e1ad01442cd57a6c1dd67aa. Each digest is SHA3-256 over the previous digest, the register key, the record label, and the record copy; a second party can recompute it from this document.