03.01.07 Least Privilege – Privileged Functions

Statement

• a. Prevent non-privileged users from executing privileged functions.

• b. Log the execution of privileged functions.

Guidance

Privileged functions include establishing system accounts, performing system integrity checks, conducting patching operations, changing system configuration settings, or administering cryptographic key management activities. Non-privileged users do not possess the authorizations to execute privileged functions. Bypassing intrusion detection and prevention mechanisms or malicious code protection mechanisms are examples of privileged functions that require protection from non-privileged users. This requirement represents a condition achieved by the definition of authorized privileges in [](#/cprt/framework/version/SP_800_171_3_0_0/home?element=03.01.01)03.01.01 and privilege enforcement in [](#/cprt/framework/version/SP_800_171_3_0_0/home?element=03.01.02)03.01.02. The misuse of privileged functions — whether intentionally or unintentionally by authorized users or by unauthorized external entities that have compromised system accounts — is a serious and ongoing concern that can have significant adverse impacts on organizations. Logging the use of privileged functions is one way to detect such misuse and mitigate risks from advanced persistent threats and insider threats.

Assessment objective

the execution of privileged functions is logged.

Assessment objective

non-privileged users are prevented from executing privileged functions.

Assessment method

• access control policy and procedures procedures for least privilege system design documentation system configuration settings system audit records list of audited events list of privileged functions to be audited and associated user account assignments system security plan other relevant documents or records

Assessment method

• personnel with responsibilities for reviewing least privileges personnel with information security responsibilities system developers system administrators

Assessment method

• mechanisms for auditing the execution of least privilege functions mechanisms for implementing least privilege functions for non-privileged users

1. Overview

1.1 References

1.2 Identified Requirements

1.3 Related Regulations

2. Identified Requirements

3. Related Regulations

Linked Issues

• NIST -

  EN: Publications of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. Department of Commerce, https://www.nist.gov/, from their electronic versions (OSCAL; SP 800-63-4 from its HTML version, https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-4/). Works of NIST employees are not subject to copyright protection in the United States (17 U.S.C. § 105); the OSCAL content is dedicated to the public domain worldwide (CC0 1.0); outside the United States NIST grants the right to reprint its technical series publications in all formats (NIST copyright statement). Republished courtesy of the National Institute of Standards and Technology; each document names its citation. Divided into sections and converted into the GRCA format, the wording unchanged. Only the versions published by NIST are authoritative.

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