03.07.04: Media Inspection

Beyond CMMC Level 1

The free web app covers the 17 CMMC Level 1 practices. This requirement is part of the full NIST 800-171 set — get the desktop app to work on all 110 requirements with SPRS scoring. Previously saved data is shown read-only below, and your data always remains exportable in full.

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Security Requirements for 03.07.04 Media Inspection

If, upon inspection of media containing maintenance diagnostic and test programs, organizations determine that the media contain malicious code, the incident is handled consistent with incident handling policies and procedures.

Assessment GuidanceExamine 0/6

How an assessor determines this requirement is met. Source: CMMC Assessment Guide – Level 2, Version 2.13 (NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2).

Discussion

As part of troubleshooting, a vendor may provide a diagnostic application to install on a system. As this is executable code, there is a chance that the file is corrupt or infected with malicious code. Implement procedures to scan any files prior to installation. The same level of scrutiny must be made as with any file a staff member may download. This requirement, MA.L2-3.7.4, extends both SI.L2-3.14.2 and SI.L2-3.14.4. SI.L2-3.14.2 and SI.L2-3.14.4 require the implementation and updating of mechanisms to protect systems

from malicious code, and MA.L2-3.7.4 extends this requirement to diagnostic and testing tools.

Examples

Example 1
You have recently been experiencing performance issues on one of your servers. After troubleshooting for much of the morning, the vendor has asked to install a utility that will collect more data from the server. The file is stored on the vendor’s FTP server. The support technician gives you the FTP site so you can anonymously download the utility file. You also ask him for a hash of the utility file. As you download the file to your local computer, you realize it is compressed. You unzip the file and perform a manual antivirus scan, which reports no issues [a]. To verify the utility file has not been altered, you run an application to see that the hash from the vendor matches.

Assessment Methods

Examine

The process of reviewing, inspecting, observing, studying, or analyzing assessment objects (e.g., policies, procedures, plans, system designs, mechanisms) to facilitate understanding, achieve clarification, or obtain evidence.Example: An assessor reads the access control policy and inspects system configuration settings to confirm they match.

Not all of the evidence listed is required to meet this requirement — check the items your organization has collected.

System maintenance policy
Procedures addressing system maintenance tools
System maintenance tools and associated documentation
Maintenance records
System security plan
Other relevant documents or records

Interview

The process of holding discussions with individuals or groups within an organization to facilitate understanding, achieve clarification, or identify the location of evidence.Example: An assessor asks a system administrator to describe how user accounts are approved, reviewed, and disabled.

Personnel with system maintenance responsibilities
Personnel with information security responsibilities

Test

The process of exercising assessment objects (e.g., activities, mechanisms) under specified conditions to compare actual behavior with expected behavior.Example: An assessor attempts to sign in with a disabled account to confirm that access is denied.

Organizational process for inspecting media for malicious code
Mechanisms supporting or implementing inspection of media used for maintenance

Potential Assessment Considerations

Are media containing diagnostic and test programs (e.g., downloaded or copied utilities or tools from manufacturer, third-party, or in-house support teams) checked for malicious code (e.g., using antivirus or antimalware scans) before the media are used on organizational systems [a]?

Key References

NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2 3.7.4

Overview