Level 2


Description:

A privileged command is a human-initiated (interactively or via a process operating on behalf of the human) command executed on a system involving the control, monitoring, or administration of the system including security functions and associated security-relevant information. Security-relevant information is any information within the system that can potentially impact the operation of security functions or the provision of security services in a manner that could result in failure to enforce the system security policy or maintain isolation of code and data. Privileged commands give individuals the ability to execute sensitive, security-critical, or security-relevant system functions. Controlling such access from remote locations helps to ensure that unauthorized individuals are not able to execute such commands freely with the potential to do serious or catastrophic damage to organizational systems. Note that the ability to affect the integrity of the system is considered security-relevant as that could enable the means to by-pass security functions although not directly impacting the function itself.  


Priority: High 


Domain: ACCESS CONTROL (AC) 


Services Associated with AWS: 

  • AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), AWS Systems Manager, AWS CloudFormation
  • AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), AWS Systems Manager, AWS CloudWatch Logs


Services Associated with Azure:

  • Azure Virtual Machines
  • Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets
  • Azure Automation
  • Azure Logic Apps
  • Azure Functions
  • Azure Runbooks
  • Azure Key Vault
  • Azure Security Center
  • Azure Monitor
  • Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)
  • Azure Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
  • Azure Policy
  • Azure Sentinel


Objective Evidence: 

  • Administrative: documented policies, standards & procedures 
  • Administrative: supporting documentation to demonstrate how Role Based Access Control (RBAC) is properly & securely implemented Administrative: supporting documentation of role-based security training being performed 
  • Technical: screen shot of groups and membership assignment


Possible Technology Considerations:

  • VPN Concentrator Access Control List (ACL) Network Intrusion Prevention System (NIPS) Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) 


What needs to be answered:

Is remote access for privileged actions only permitted for necessary functions? It should be documented what these 

functions are and why it is necessary they are permitted. 


Checks for AWS

  • Authorize Remote Execution of Privileged Commands
    Description: This check ensures that remote execution of privileged commands is authorized and controlled. Privileged commands involve the control, monitoring, or administration of the system, including security functions and security-relevant information.
  •  Enable Remote Access to Security-Relevant Information
    Description: This check verifies that remote access to security-relevant information is enabled and appropriately controlled. Security-relevant information refers to any information within the system that can potentially impact the operation of security functions or the provision of security services.


Checks for Azure

  • Authorize Remote Execution of Privileged Commands in Azure:
    Description: This check ensures that remote execution of privileged commands is authorized and controlled in Azure. Privileged commands involve the control, monitoring, or administration of the system, including security functions and security-relevant information. This check validates that remote access for privileged actions is permitted only for necessary functions and is properly documented.
  • Enable Remote Access to Security-Relevant Information in Azure:
    Description: This check verifies that remote access to security-relevant information is enabled and appropriately controlled in Azure. Security-relevant information refers to any information within the system that can potentially impact the operation of security functions or the provision of security services. This check ensures that remote access to security-relevant information is permitted only for necessary purposes and is properly documented.


More Details: Remove access controlled to allow only authorized administrators to perform privileged functions.