7.2.6 Query access to stored cardholder data restricted

When users query databases or other stores holding cardholder data, that access must be restricted so that: users get to the data by way of applications or other programmatic methods, with their access and allowed actions set by their roles and least privilege; and direct access to, or querying of, stored CHD repositories is limited to the responsible administrators. The guidance defines programmatic methods with examples such as database stored procedures, and advises that granting access to these repositories follow the same role-based process as any other access. Applicability: covers the controls on users querying stored cardholder data; application and system accounts fall instead under Requirement 7.2.5 (and its sub-requirement) and 8.6.1 to 8.6.3. Objective under the customized approach: direct, unfiltered ad hoc queries against cardholder data repositories are prohibited except by an authorized administrator.

Source: PCI DSS v4.0.1, 7.2.6. The statement above is our statement of the clause, read from the published text and cited so you can check it against the official text, not the instrument verbatim. Open PCI DSS v4.0.1 in the compliance library.

Version 4.0.1 is the active version; 4.0 has been retired. Appendix A1 applies only to multi-tenant service providers, A2 only to card-present POS POI terminals that still use SSL or early TLS, and A3 only when a payment brand or acquirer requires it. Which requirements apply to you follows your validation type.