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SI-3(8) SI · System and Information Integrity

Detect Unauthorized Commands

LOW MODERATE HIGH
1 Overlay 3 Related Controls
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Detecting unauthorized commands can be applied to critical interfaces other than kernel-based interfaces, including interfaces with virtual machines and privileged applications. Unauthorized operating system commands include commands for kernel functions from system processes that are not trusted to initiate such commands as well as commands for kernel functions that are suspicious even though commands of that type are reasonable for processes to initiate. Organizations can define the malicious commands to be detected by a combination of command types, command classes, or specific instances of commands. Organizations can also define hardware components by component type, component, component location in the network, or a combination thereof. Organizations may select different actions for different types, classes, or instances of malicious commands.

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-3(8) 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 hardware components for which unauthorized operating system commands are to be detected through the kernel application programming interface are defined;
  2. unauthorized operating system commands to be detected are defined;
  3. one or more of the following PARAMETER VALUES is/are selected: {issue a warning; audit the command execution; prevent the execution of the command};
  4. <SI-03(08)_ODP[01] unauthorized operating system commands> are detected through the kernel application programming interface on <SI-03(08)_ODP[02] system hardware components>;
  5. <SI-03(08)_ODP[03] SELECTED PARAMETER VALUES> is/are performed.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: System and information integrity policy; system and information integrity procedures; procedures addressing malicious code protection; system design documentation; malicious code protection mechanisms; warning messages sent upon the detection of unauthorized operating system command execution; 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; system developers; organizational personnel installing, configuring, and/or maintaining the system; organizational personnel responsible for malicious code protection].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing malicious code protection capabilities; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the detection of unauthorized operating system commands through the kernel application programming interface].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control SI-3 — see the SI-3(8) 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)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for SI-3(8). 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 malicious code protection capabilities
  • mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the detection of unauthorized operating system commands through the kernel application programming interface

Other Records

  • system and information integrity procedures
  • procedures addressing malicious code protection
  • malicious code protection mechanisms
  • warning messages sent upon the detection of unauthorized operating system command execution
  • system audit records
  • other relevant documents or records