CM-5: Access Restrictions For Change
Control Family:
CSF v1.1 References:
PF v1.0 References:
Threats Addressed:
Next Version:
- NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5.2.0:
- CM-5: Access Restrictions for Change
Control Statement
The organization defines, documents, approves, and enforces physical and logical access restrictions associated with changes to the information system.
Supplemental Guidance
Any changes to the hardware, software, and/or firmware components of information systems can potentially have significant effects on the overall security of the systems. Therefore, organizations permit only qualified and authorized individuals to access information systems for purposes of initiating changes, including upgrades and modifications. Organizations maintain records of access to ensure that configuration change control is implemented and to support after-the-fact actions should organizations discover any unauthorized changes. Access restrictions for change also include software libraries. Access restrictions include, for example, physical and logical access controls (see AC-3 and PE-3), workflow automation, media libraries, abstract layers (e.g., changes implemented into third-party interfaces rather than directly into information systems), and change windows (e.g., changes occur only during specified times, making unauthorized changes easy to discover).
Control Enhancements
CM-5(1): Automated Access Enforcement / Auditing
Baseline(s):
- High
The information system enforces access restrictions and supports auditing of the enforcement actions.
CM-5(2): Review System Changes
Baseline(s):
- High
The organization reviews information system changes [Assignment: organization-defined frequency] and [Assignment: organization-defined circumstances] to determine whether unauthorized changes have occurred.
CM-5(3): Signed Components
Baseline(s):
- High
The information system prevents the installation of [Assignment: organization-defined software and firmware components] without verification that the component has been digitally signed using a certificate that is recognized and approved by the organization.
CM-5(4): Dual Authorization
Baseline(s):
The organization enforces dual authorization for implementing changes to [Assignment: organization-defined information system components and system-level information].
CM-5(5): Limit Production / Operational Privileges
Baseline(s):
The organization: Limits privileges to change information system components and system-related information within a production or operational environment; and Reviews and reevaluates privileges [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].
CM-5(6): Limit Library Privileges
Baseline(s):
The organization limits privileges to change software resident within software libraries.