+4.2 Least privilege

4.2 Least privilege

Principle (secure by design)Every user, service and process operates with the feasible minimum permissions needed to do its job – no more and for no longer than necessary.
ObjectiveReduces unauthorised access, limits blast radius, blocks lateral movement and prevents permission creep.

Checklist

Define minimum viable permissions for each role/service
  • List key roles (user, support, admin) and key services (API, provisioning, updates).
  • For each, define allowed actions (read/write/admin) and resources (APIs, tables, buckets).
Use unique identities (no shared admin)
  • One identity per service (service account/workload identity) , applicable to both web services and services running on a device.
  • No shared admin users/keys; separate dev/test/prod identities.
Default-deny and explicit allow lists
  • Deny by default; allow only required API methods, data access and network paths.
  • Restrict service-to-service access to specific interfaces.
Time-bound admin access (JIT) + attribution
  • Named accounts + MFA for admins (all human users if possible).
  • Temporary elevation for privileged actions; break-glass is separate and monitored.
Automate privilege hygiene
  • Monthly (or at each release), flag broad privileges and unused permissions/tokens; remove or time-limit exceptions.

Minimum evidence

  • Access model exists: for example, a short table “Role/Service, allowed actions, resources” stored in repo/wiki and kept current.
  • No shared admin: IAM inventory shows unique service identities; no reused production admin keys.
  • Deny works: automated negative tests prove unauthorised API/data access is blocked for each critical service.
  • Admins are accountable: logs show who performed privileged actions; elevation expires automatically.
  • Creep is controlled: recurring report flags unused/broad permissions; removals/exceptions are tracked, with owner and expiry.

Release gate

  • Unique service identities; no shared production admin keys
  • Default-deny posture; only required paths enabled
  • Admin access uses MFA and is time bound and logged
  • Automated authorisation tests run verifying correct access restrictions for critical privileged functions
  • Privilege review run; exceptions owned and time limited

1. Apžvalga

Pavadinimas Standartas

1.1 Nuorodos

1.2 Nustatyti reikalavimai

1.3 Susiję teisės aktai

2. Nustatyti reikalavimai

Reikalavimai
Šaltinis Reikalavimas

3. Susiję teisės aktai

Teisės aktai
Šaltinis Reguliavimas