CM-8(4)_accountability-information

CM-8(4) Accountability Information

Enhancement of: CM-8

High-Level Description

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

Identifying individuals who are responsible and accountable for administering system components ensures that the assigned components are properly administered and that organizations can contact those individuals if some action is required (e.g., when the component is determined to be the source of a breach, needs to be recalled or replaced, or needs to be relocated).

What to Check

• Verify CM-8(4) Accountability Information is documented in SSP
• Confirm control is operating effectively
• Review evidence of continuous monitoring for CM-8(4)
• 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(4) 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

Include in the system component inventory information, a means for identifying by [organization-defined] , individuals responsible and accountable for administering those components.

Implementation Guidance

Identifying individuals who are responsible and accountable for administering system components ensures that the assigned components are properly administered and that organizations can contact those individuals if some action is required (e.g., when the component is determined to be the source of a breach, needs to be recalled or replaced, or needs to be relocated).

Risk Assessment

CWE Categories

References

• NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - CM-8(4)
• 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 (AC-3) reviewed