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CM-7(4) CM · Configuration Management

Unauthorized Software — Deny-by-exception

LOW MODERATE HIGH
1 Overlay 5 Related Controls
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Unauthorized software programs can be limited to specific versions or from a specific source. The concept of prohibiting the execution of unauthorized software may also be applied to user actions, system ports and protocols, IP addresses/ranges, websites, and MAC addresses.

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-7(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. software programs not authorized to execute on the system are defined;
  2. frequency at which to review and update the list of unauthorized software programs is defined;
  3. <CM-07(04)_ODP[01] software programs> are identified;
  4. an allow-all, deny-by-exception policy is employed to prohibit the execution of unauthorized software programs on the system;
  5. the list of unauthorized software programs is reviewed and updated <CM-07(04)_ODP[02] frequency>.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Configuration management policy; procedures addressing least functionality in the system; configuration management plan; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; list of software programs not authorized to execute on the system; system component inventory; common secure configuration checklists; review and update records associated with list of unauthorized software programs; change control records; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with responsibilities for identifying software not authorized to execute on the system; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system/network administrators].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Organizational process for identifying, reviewing, and updating programs not authorized to execute on the system; organizational process for implementing unauthorized software policy; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing unauthorized software policy].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control CM-7 — see the CM-7(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)
  • Included: (1) (2) (5)

HIGH

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1) (2) (5)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for CM-7(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 configuration settings and associated documentation
  • system component inventory
  • common secure configuration checklists

Testing

  • Organizational process for identifying, reviewing, and updating programs not authorized to execute on the system
  • organizational process for implementing unauthorized software policy
  • mechanisms supporting and/or implementing unauthorized software policy

Other Records

  • procedures addressing least functionality in the system
  • list of software programs not authorized to execute on the system
  • review and update records associated with list of unauthorized software programs
  • change control records
  • system audit records
  • other relevant documents or records