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SC-23(3) SC · System and Communications Protection

Unique System-generated Session Identifiers

LOW MODERATE HIGH
1 Overlay 3 Related Controls
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Generate a unique session identifier for each session with [randomness requirements] and recognize only session identifiers that are system-generated.

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Generating unique session identifiers curtails the ability of adversaries to reuse previously valid session IDs. Employing the concept of randomness in the generation of unique session identifiers protects against brute-force attacks to determine future session identifiers.

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 SC-23(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. randomness requirements for generating a unique session identifier for each session are defined;
  2. a unique session identifier is generated for each session with <SC-23(03)_ODP randomness requirements>;
  3. only system-generated session identifiers are recognized.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: System and communications protection policy; procedures addressing session authenticity; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting, implementing, generating, and monitoring unique session identifiers; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing randomness requirements].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control SC-23 — see the SC-23(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)

HIGH

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for SC-23(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

  • System and communications protection policy
  • system security plan

Configuration

  • system design documentation
  • system configuration settings and associated documentation

Testing

  • Mechanisms supporting, implementing, generating, and monitoring unique session identifiers
  • mechanisms supporting and/or implementing randomness requirements

Other Records

  • procedures addressing session authenticity
  • system audit records
  • other relevant documents or records