CM-8(2)_automated-maintenance

CM-8(2) Automated Maintenance

Enhancement of: CM-8

High-Level Description

Family: Configuration Management (CM) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

Organizations maintain system inventories to the extent feasible. For example, virtual machines can be difficult to monitor because such machines are not visible to the network when not in use. In such cases, organizations maintain as up-to-date, complete, and accurate an inventory as is deemed reasonable. Automated maintenance can be achieved by the implementation of CM-2(2) for organizations that combine system component inventory and baseline configuration activities.

What to Check

• Verify CM-8(2) Automated Maintenance is documented in SSP
• Confirm control is operating effectively
• Review evidence of continuous monitoring for CM-8(2)
• Verify enhancement builds upon base control CM-8

How to Test

Step 1: Review Documentation

Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for CM-8(2) implementation details. Verify the organization has documented how this control is satisfied.

Step 2: Validate Implementation

# For cloud environments, use cloud-audit-mcp tools
# For on-premises, review system configurations directly

# Example: Check if account management policies exist
grep -r "account.management\|access.control" /etc/security/ 2>/dev/null

Step 3: Test Operating Effectiveness

Verify the control is actively functioning, not just documented. Check logs, configurations, and operational evidence.

Tools

Remediation Guide

Control Statement

Maintain the currency, completeness, accuracy, and availability of the inventory of system components using [organization-defined].

Implementation Guidance

Organizations maintain system inventories to the extent feasible. For example, virtual machines can be difficult to monitor because such machines are not visible to the network when not in use. In such cases, organizations maintain as up-to-date, complete, and accurate an inventory as is deemed reasonable. Automated maintenance can be achieved by the implementation of CM-2(2) for organizations that combine system component inventory and baseline configuration activities.

Risk Assessment

CWE Categories

References

• NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - CM-8(2)
• NIST SP 800-53A Rev 5 (Assessment Procedures)
• NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 Full Catalog

Checklist

• Control documented in SSP
• Implementation evidence collected
• Operating effectiveness validated
• Continuous monitoring in place
• Related controls (none) reviewed