# Insufficient  Authentication Controls

## Overview

**Insufficient  Authentication Controls** usually ties into not having **MFA** enforced. If there is no **MFA** or a way to bypass it the severity rating is **High** at a minimum.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you're not getting access anywhere with your pentest and can't tell if they're using MFA, you can ask the client if they have it enforced or not so you can include it on your report if they don't have it in writing from them.
{% endhint %}

## Example 1

<figure><img src="/files/8T5E1yNRGa5FSvYmzhY8" alt=""><figcaption><p>MFA bypass via MailSniper and a vulnerable on-prem Exchange server</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/Jnaj3REZgPycKKM3WqSk" alt=""><figcaption><p>MFA bypass via MailSniper and a vulnerable on-prem Exchange server</p></figcaption></figure>

## Example 2

<figure><img src="/files/FyKZTnnh7tMPydbcIkPq" alt=""><figcaption><p>MFA wasn't enforced on all applications leaving security holes</p></figcaption></figure>


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://pnpt.adot8.com/external-pentest-playbook/common-pentest-findings/insufficient-authentication-controls.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.