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AC-6(9) AC · Access Control

Log Use of Privileged Functions

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

Log the execution of privileged functions.

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

The misuse of privileged functions, either intentionally or unintentionally by authorized users or by unauthorized external entities that have compromised system accounts, is a serious and ongoing concern and can have significant adverse impacts on organizations. Logging and analyzing the use of privileged functions is one way to detect such misuse and, in doing so, help mitigate the risk from insider threats and the advanced persistent threat.

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(9) 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. the execution of privileged functions is logged.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Access control policy; procedures addressing least privilege; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; list of privileged functions to be audited; list of audited events; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with responsibilities for reviewing least privileges necessary to accomplish specified tasks; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system/network administrators; system developers].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms auditing the execution of least privilege functions].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control AC-6 — see the AC-6(9) 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(9). 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 design documentation
  • system configuration settings and associated documentation

Testing

  • Mechanisms auditing the execution of least privilege functions

Other Records

  • procedures addressing least privilege
  • list of privileged functions to be audited
  • list of audited events
  • system audit records
  • other relevant documents or records