Wireless Link Protection
LOW MODERATE HIGHRequirements NIST SOURCE
Protect external and internal [organization-defined wireless links] from the following signal parameter attacks: [organization-defined types of signal parameter attacks or references to sources for such attacks].
Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)
Wireless link protection applies to internal and external wireless communication links that may be visible to individuals who are not authorized system users. Adversaries can exploit the signal parameters of wireless links if such links are not adequately protected. There are many ways to exploit the signal parameters of wireless links to gain intelligence, deny service, or spoof system users. Protection of wireless links reduces the impact of attacks that are unique to wireless systems. If organizations rely on commercial service providers for transmission services as commodity items rather than as fully dedicated services, it may not be possible to implement wireless link protections to the extent necessary to meet organizational security requirements.
Enhancements NIST SOURCE
SC-40(1) Electromagnetic Interference LOW MODERATE HIGH
Implement cryptographic mechanisms that achieve [level of protection] against the effects of intentional electromagnetic interference.
Discussion
The implementation of cryptographic mechanisms for electromagnetic interference protects systems against intentional jamming that might deny or impair communications by ensuring that wireless spread spectrum waveforms used to provide anti-jam protection are not predictable by unauthorized individuals. The implementation of cryptographic mechanisms may also coincidentally mitigate the effects of unintentional jamming due to interference from legitimate transmitters that share the same spectrum. Mission requirements, projected threats, concept of operations, and laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, and standards determine levels of wireless link availability, cryptography needed, and performance.
SC-40(2) Reduce Detection Potential LOW MODERATE HIGH
Implement cryptographic mechanisms to reduce the detection potential of wireless links to [level of reduction].
Discussion
The implementation of cryptographic mechanisms to reduce detection potential is used for covert communications and to protect wireless transmitters from geo-location. It also ensures that the spread spectrum waveforms used to achieve a low probability of detection are not predictable by unauthorized individuals. Mission requirements, projected threats, concept of operations, and applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, and standards determine the levels to which wireless links are undetectable.
SC-40(3) Imitative or Manipulative Communications Deception LOW MODERATE HIGH
Implement cryptographic mechanisms to identify and reject wireless transmissions that are deliberate attempts to achieve imitative or manipulative communications deception based on signal parameters.
Discussion
The implementation of cryptographic mechanisms to identify and reject imitative or manipulative communications ensures that the signal parameters of wireless transmissions are not predictable by unauthorized individuals. Such unpredictability reduces the probability of imitative or manipulative communications deception based on signal parameters alone.
SC-40(4) Signal Parameter Identification LOW MODERATE HIGH
Implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent the identification of [wireless transmitters] by using the transmitter signal parameters.
Discussion
The implementation of cryptographic mechanisms to prevent the identification of wireless transmitters protects against the unique identification of wireless transmitters for the purposes of intelligence exploitation by ensuring that anti-fingerprinting alterations to signal parameters are not predictable by unauthorized individuals. It also provides anonymity when required. Radio fingerprinting techniques identify the unique signal parameters of transmitters to fingerprint such transmitters for purposes of tracking and mission or user identification.
Implementation Guidance
Original engineering commentary written for this explorer — not NIST source text and not authoritative guidance.
No engineering interpretation has been authored for SC-40 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
Assessment Objectives
- external wireless links to be protected from particular types of signal parameter attacks are defined;
- types of signal parameter attacks or references to sources for such attacks from which to protect external wireless links are defined;
- internal wireless links to be protected from particular types of signal parameter attacks are defined;
- types of signal parameter attacks or references to sources for such attacks from which to protect internal wireless links are defined;
- external <SC-40_ODP[01] wireless links> are protected from <SC-40_ODP[02] types of signal parameter attacks or references to sources for such attacks>.
- internal <SC-40_ODP[03] wireless links> are protected from <SC-40_ODP[04] types of signal parameter attacks or references to sources for such attacks>.
Examine
[SELECT FROM: System and communications protection policy; access control policy and procedures; procedures addressing wireless link protection; system design documentation; wireless network diagrams; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system architecture; list of internal and external wireless links; list of signal parameter attacks or references to sources for attacks; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].
Interview
[SELECT FROM: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system developer; organizational personnel installing, configuring, and/or maintaining the system; organizational personnel authorizing, installing, configuring, and/or maintaining internal and external wireless links].
Test
[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the protection of wireless links].
STIGs & CCIs
No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for SC-40. 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
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
- access control policy and procedures
- system security plan
Configuration
- system design documentation
- system configuration settings and associated documentation
- system architecture
Testing
- Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the protection of wireless links
Other Records
- procedures addressing wireless link protection
- wireless network diagrams
- list of internal and external wireless links
- list of signal parameter attacks or references to sources for attacks
- system audit records
- other relevant documents or records