- Success Criterion 3.3.8
- Conformance level AA
Security Question Requiring an Exact Memorized Answer
3.3.8 — Accessible Authentication (Minimum)
Scenario
Setting
A ride-hailing app's trip booking screen
What’s wrong
Security questions demanding recalled exact strings as the only second factor with no alternative (memorization test).
Example
<!-- Login requires solving an image CAPTCHA, no alternative -->Why it matters
People with cognitive disabilities and anyone who depends on password managers or paste.
How to test
Check whether a security question demanding an exact recalled answer is the only second factor: if there's no non-memory-based alternative, it fails.
How to fix
Login must work with paste and password managers — any cognitive test must have a non-cognitive alternative method.
<!-- Login uses email + password, or a passkey, with no puzzle/transcription step -->Authentication can't rely solely on solving a puzzle or transcription task with no cognitive-function-test alternative.
Outcome
On a ride-hailing app's trip booking screen, this barrier is gone for people with cognitive disabilities and anyone who depends on password managers or paste — they can finish what they came here to do.
Who is affected
People with cognitive disabilities and anyone who depends on password managers or paste.
Learn more
- Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)
Related scenarios
- Password Field That Blocks Pasting or Splits the Code Up
- Password Field Scripted to Block Paste Entirely
- Password Manager Autofill Blocked by the Login Form
- Visual CAPTCHA Required With No Non-Visual Alternative
- Puzzle CAPTCHA Gating Login With No Alternative Method
- One-Time Code Split Into Boxes That Reject a Pasted Code