SI.L1-3.14.1/b.1.xii Flaw Remediation

Identify, report, and correct information and information system flaws in a timely manner.

Source: FAR Clause 52.204-21 b.1.xii, NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 3.14.1

Discussion: Organizations identify systems that are affected by announced software and firmware flaws including potential vulnerabilities resulting from those flaws and report this information to designated personnel with information security responsibilities. Security-relevant updates include patches, service packs, hot fixes, and anti-virus signatures. Organizations address flaws discovered during security assessments, continuous monitoring, incident response activities, and system error handling. Organizations can take advantage of available resources such as the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) database or Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database in remediating flaws discovered in organizational systems. Organization-defined time periods for updating security-relevant software and firmware may vary based on a variety of factors including the criticality of the update (i.e., severity of the vulnerability related to the discovered flaw). Some types of flaw remediation may require more testing than other types of remediation. [SP 800-40] provides guidance on patch management technologies.

Assessment Objectives:

Determine if:

Examine: [SELECT FROM: System and information integrity policy; procedures addressing flaw remediation; procedures addressing configuration management; security plan; list of flaws and vulnerabilities potentially affecting the system; list of recent security flaw remediation actions performed on the system (e.g., list of installed patches, service packs, hot fixes, and other software updates to correct system flaws); test results from the installation of software and firmware updates to correct system flaws; installation/change control records for security-relevant software and firmware updates; other relevant documents or records].

Interview: [SELECT FROM: System or network administrators; personnel with information security responsibilities; personnel installing, configuring, and maintaining the system; personnel with responsibility for flaw remediation; personnel with configuration management responsibility].

Test: [SELECT FROM: Organizational processes for identifying, reporting, and correcting system flaws; organizational process for installing software and firmware updates; mechanisms supporting or implementing reporting, and correcting system flaws; mechanisms supporting or implementing testing software and firmware updates].

SPRS Score: 5

POA&M Allowed: No