+SC-39 Process Isolation
---+SC-39(01) Hardware Separation
---+SC-39(02) Separate Execution Domain Per Thread

SC-39 Process Isolation

Control

Maintain a separate execution domain for each executing system process.

Discussion

Systems can maintain separate execution domains for each executing process by assigning each process a separate address space. Each system process has a distinct address space so that communication between processes is performed in a manner controlled through the security functions, and one process cannot modify the executing code of another process. Maintaining separate execution domains for executing processes can be achieved, for example, by implementing separate address spaces. Process isolation technologies, including sandboxing or virtualization, logically separate software and firmware from other software, firmware, and data. Process isolation helps limit the access of potentially untrusted software to other system resources. The capability to maintain separate execution domains is available in commercial operating systems that employ multi-state processor technologies.

Assessment Objective

a separate execution domain is maintained for each executing system process.

Assessment Method

Examine

System design documentation system architecture independent verification and validation documentation testing and evaluation documentation other relevant documents or records

Interview

System developers/integrators system security architect

1. Panoramica

SC-39(01) Hardware Separation

Control

Implement hardware separation mechanisms to facilitate process isolation.

Discussion

Hardware-based separation of system processes is generally less susceptible to compromise than software-based separation, thus providing greater assurance that the separation will be enforced. Hardware separation mechanisms include hardware memory management.