SI-2(6)_removal-of-previous-versions-of-software-and-firmware

SI-2(6) Removal of Previous Versions of Software and Firmware

Enhancement of: SI-2

High-Level Description

Family: System and Information Integrity (SI) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

Previous versions of software or firmware components that are not removed from the system after updates have been installed may be exploited by adversaries. Some products may automatically remove previous versions of software and firmware from the system.

What to Check

• Verify SI-2(6) Removal of Previous Versions of Software and Firmware is documented in SSP
• Confirm control is operating effectively
• Review evidence of continuous monitoring for SI-2(6)
• Verify enhancement builds upon base control SI-2

How to Test

Step 1: Review Documentation

Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for SI-2(6) 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

Remove previous versions of [organization-defined] after updated versions have been installed.

Implementation Guidance

Previous versions of software or firmware components that are not removed from the system after updates have been installed may be exploited by adversaries. Some products may automatically remove previous versions of software and firmware from the system.

Risk Assessment

CWE Categories

References

• NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - SI-2(6)
• 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