SI-7(5)_automated-response-to-integrity-violations

SI-7(5) Automated Response to Integrity Violations

Enhancement of: SI-7

High-Level Description

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

Organizations may define different integrity-checking responses by type of information, specific information, or a combination of both. Types of information include firmware, software, and user data. Specific information includes boot firmware for certain types of machines. The automatic implementation of controls within organizational systems includes reversing the changes, halting the system, or triggering audit alerts when unauthorized modifications to critical security files occur.

What to Check

• Verify SI-7(5) Automated Response to Integrity Violations is documented in SSP
• Confirm control is operating effectively
• Review evidence of continuous monitoring for SI-7(5)
• Verify enhancement builds upon base control SI-7

How to Test

Step 1: Review Documentation

Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for SI-7(5) 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

Automatically [organization-defined] when integrity violations are discovered.

Implementation Guidance

Organizations may define different integrity-checking responses by type of information, specific information, or a combination of both. Types of information include firmware, software, and user data. Specific information includes boot firmware for certain types of machines. The automatic implementation of controls within organizational systems includes reversing the changes, halting the system, or triggering audit alerts when unauthorized modifications to critical security files occur.

Risk Assessment

CWE Categories

References

• NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - SI-7(5)
• 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