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SI-2(6) SI · System and Information Integrity

Removal of Previous Versions of Software and Firmware

LOW MODERATE HIGH
1 Overlay 0 Related Controls
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Remove previous versions of [software and firmware components] after updated versions have been installed.

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Previous versions of software or firmware components that are not removed from the system after updates have been installed may be exploited by adversaries. Some products may automatically remove previous versions of software and firmware from the system.

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 SI-2(6) 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 and firmware components to be removed after updated versions have been installed are defined;
  2. previous versions of <SI-02(06)_ODP software and firmware components> are removed after updated versions have been installed.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: System and information integrity policy; system and information integrity procedures; procedures addressing flaw remediation; mechanisms supporting flaw remediation; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; records of software and firmware component removals after updated versions are installed; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; organizational personnel installing, configuring, and/or maintaining the system; organizational personnel responsible for flaw remediation].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the removal of previous versions of software/firmware].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control SI-2 — see the SI-2(6) 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: (2)

HIGH

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

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for SI-2(6). 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 information integrity policy
  • system security plan

Configuration

  • system design documentation
  • system configuration settings and associated documentation

Testing

  • Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the removal of previous versions of software/firmware

Other Records

  • system and information integrity procedures
  • procedures addressing flaw remediation
  • mechanisms supporting flaw remediation
  • records of software and firmware component removals after updated versions are installed
  • system audit records
  • other relevant documents or records