A data processing system and a method are provided for recognizing a scanned biometric characteristic in the data processing system. The data processing system includes a biometric sensor, a rich execution environment (REE), and a secure element (SE). In one embodiment, during an enrollment operation, a random challenge is applied to scanned data to produce a biometric template that is stored. During subsequent validation operations, the SE determines if user data includes evidence of the random challenge before providing access to a secure application. Evidence of the random challenge indicates the user data was provided by the biometric sensor. In another embodiment, the sensor data is split between the REE and the SE and partially processed in the SE. The described embodiments prevent a replay attack from being conducted in communications between the REE and the SE.