AC-12: Session Termination
Control Family:
CSF v1.1 References:
PF v1.0 References:
Threats Addressed:
Baselines:
- Low
N/A
- Moderate
- AC-12
- High
- AC-12
Next Version:
- NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5:
- AC-12: Session Termination
Control Statement
The information system automatically terminates a user session after [Assignment: organization-defined conditions or trigger events requiring session disconnect].
Supplemental Guidance
This control addresses the termination of user-initiated logical sessions in contrast to SC-10 which addresses the termination of network connections that are associated with communications sessions (i.e., network disconnect). A logical session (for local, network, and remote access) is initiated whenever a user (or process acting on behalf of a user) accesses an organizational information system. Such user sessions can be terminated (and thus terminate user access) without terminating network sessions. Session termination terminates all processes associated with a user's logical session except those processes that are specifically created by the user (i.e., session owner) to continue after the session is terminated. Conditions or trigger events requiring automatic session termination can include, for example, organization-defined periods of user inactivity, targeted responses to certain types of incidents, time-of-day restrictions on information system use.
Control Enhancements
AC-12(1): User-Initiated Logouts / Message Displays
Baseline(s):
The information system: Provides a logout capability for user-initiated communications sessions whenever authentication is used to gain access to [Assignment: organization-defined information resources]; and Displays an explicit logout message to users indicating the reliable termination of authenticated communications sessions.