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AC-4(19) AC · Access Control

Validation of Metadata

LOW MODERATE HIGH
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

When transferring information between different security domains, implement [organization-defined security or privacy policy filters] on metadata.

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

All information (including metadata and the data to which the metadata applies) is subject to filtering and inspection. Some organizations distinguish between metadata and data payloads (i.e., only the data to which the metadata is bound). Other organizations do not make such distinctions and consider metadata and the data to which the metadata applies to be part of the payload.

Implementation Guidance

Engineering Interpretation

Original engineering commentary written for this explorer — not NIST source text and not authoritative guidance.

No engineering interpretation has been authored for AC-4(19) yet. This section is architected to receive it — see the Requirements and Assessment sections above for the authoritative NIST source content in the meantime.

Assessment

NIST SP 800-53A REV 5.2.0

Assessment Objectives

  1. security policy filters to be implemented on metadata are defined (if selected);
  2. privacy policy filters to be implemented on metadata are defined (if selected);
  3. when transferring information between different security domains, <AC-04(19)_ODP[01] security policy filters> are implemented on metadata;
  4. when transferring information between different security domains, <AC-04(19)_ODP[02] privacy policy filters> are implemented on metadata.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Information flow enforcement policy; information flow control policies; procedures addressing information flow enforcement; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; list of security policy filtering criteria applied to metadata and data payloads; system audit records; system security plan; privacy plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with information flow enforcement responsibilities; system/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; organizational personnel with privacy responsibilities; system developers].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms implementing information flow enforcement functions; security and policy filters].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control AC-4 — see the AC-4(19) entries within each baseline below.

OT/ICS Overlay SP 800-82r3

NIST SP 800-82r3 Appendix F, Table 22. Blank baseline means the control/control enhancement is not selected in that initial OT baseline.

LOW

Not applicable at this tier.

MODERATE

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

HIGH

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (4)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for AC-4(19). This section is architected to display, per product: STIG ID, Finding ID, Severity, Title, Description, Check, Fix, CCI, and NIST control mapping — but nothing is populated here until a real DISA STIG/CCI dataset is ingested.

Learn more about STIG/CCI integration →

Evidence

Potential Evidence — Derived

Categorized from the SP 800-53A "Examine"/"Test" artifact list above by keyword — not an authoritative NIST evidence list.

Policy

  • Information flow enforcement policy
  • information flow control policies
  • list of security policy filtering criteria applied to metadata and data payloads
  • system security plan
  • privacy plan

Configuration

  • system design documentation
  • system configuration settings and associated documentation

Testing

  • Mechanisms implementing information flow enforcement functions
  • security and policy filters

Other Records

  • procedures addressing information flow enforcement
  • system audit records
  • other relevant documents or records