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AC-6(3) AC · Access Control

Network Access to Privileged Commands

LOW MODERATE ✓ HIGH
1 Overlay 3 Related Controls
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Authorize network access to [privileged commands] only for [compelling operational needs] and document the rationale for such access in the security plan for the system.

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Network access is any access across a network connection in lieu of local access (i.e., user being physically present at the device).

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-6(3) 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. privileged commands to which network access is to be authorized only for compelling operational needs are defined;
  2. compelling operational needs necessitating network access to privileged commands are defined;
  3. network access to <AC-06(03)_ODP[01] privileged commands> is authorized only for <AC-06(03)_ODP[02] compelling operational needs>;
  4. the rationale for authorizing network access to privileged commands is documented in the security plan for the system.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Access control policy; procedures addressing least privilege; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system audit records; list of operational needs for authorizing network access to privileged commands; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with responsibilities for defining least privileges necessary to accomplish specified tasks; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms implementing least privilege functions].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control AC-6 — see the AC-6(3) 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)
  • Included: (1) (2) (5) (7) (9) (10)

HIGH

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1) (2) (3) (5) (7) (9) (10)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for AC-6(3). 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

  • Access control policy
  • system security plan

Configuration

  • system configuration settings and associated documentation

Testing

  • Mechanisms implementing least privilege functions

Other Records

  • procedures addressing least privilege
  • system audit records
  • list of operational needs for authorizing network access to privileged commands
  • other relevant documents or records