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CM-5(4) CM · Configuration Management

Dual Authorization

LOW MODERATE HIGH
1 Overlay 3 Related Controls
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Enforce dual authorization for implementing changes to [organization-defined system components and system-level information].

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Organizations employ dual authorization to help ensure that any changes to selected system components and information cannot occur unless two qualified individuals approve and implement such changes. The two individuals possess the skills and expertise to determine if the proposed changes are correct implementations of approved changes. The individuals are also accountable for the changes. Dual authorization may also be known as two-person control. To reduce the risk of collusion, organizations consider rotating dual authorization duties to other individuals. System-level information includes operational procedures.

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 CM-5(4) 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. system components requiring dual authorization for changes are defined;
  2. system-level information requiring dual authorization for changes is defined;
  3. dual authorization for implementing changes to <CM-05(04)_ODP[01] system components> is enforced;
  4. dual authorization for implementing changes to <CM-05(04)_ODP[02] system-level information> is enforced.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Configuration management policy; procedures addressing access restrictions for changes to the system; configuration management plan; system design documentation; system architecture and configuration documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; change control records; system audit records; system component inventory; system information types information; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with dual authorization enforcement responsibilities for implementing system changes; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system/network administrators].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Organizational processes for managing access restrictions to change; mechanisms implementing dual authorization enforcement].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control CM-5 — see the CM-5(4) 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

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

MODERATE

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

HIGH

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for CM-5(4). 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

  • system security plan

Configuration

  • Configuration management policy
  • configuration management plan
  • system design documentation
  • system architecture and configuration documentation
  • system configuration settings and associated documentation
  • system component inventory

Testing

  • Organizational processes for managing access restrictions to change
  • mechanisms implementing dual authorization enforcement

Other Records

  • procedures addressing access restrictions for changes to the system
  • change control records
  • system audit records
  • system information types information
  • other relevant documents or records