BaselineWatch
Desk

APSC-DV-000170 The application must implement cryptographic mechanisms to protect the integrity of remote access sessions.

DISA STIG library V6R5
All changes in this version
first version loaded CAT II

Maps to AC-17(2) via CCI-001453

Title

The application must implement cryptographic mechanisms to protect the integrity of remote access sessions.

Control

Review the application documentation and interview the system administrator. Identify the application encryption capabilities and methods for implementing encryption protection. For web based applications; open the web browser and access the website URL. Use the browser and determine if the session is protected via TLS. A secure connection is usually indicated in the upper left hand corner of the URL by a padlock icon. Click on the padlock icon and examine the connection information. Determine if TLS encryption is used to secure the session. For non-web based applications, determine the TCP/IP port, protocol and method used for establishing client connections to the remote server. Review application configuration settings to ensure encryption is specified and via TLS. If the connection is not secured with TLS, this is a finding.

Discussion

Without integrity protection mechanisms, unauthorized individuals may gain access to sensitive information via a remote access session. Remote access is access to DoW nonpublic information systems by an authorized user (or an information system) communicating through an external, non-organization-controlled network. Remote access methods include, for example, dial-up, broadband, and wireless. Encryption provides a means to secure the remote connection to prevent unauthorized access to the data traversing the remote access connection. Without integrity protection mechanisms, unauthorized individuals may be able to insert inauthentic content into a remote session. The encryption strength of mechanism is selected based on the security categorization of the information.

Related controls

CCI-001453

Fix

Design and configure applications to use TLS encryption to protect the integrity of remote access sessions.