Profile Applicability:
Level 1
Description:
The number of administrator accounts for the package registry must be limited to the minimum necessary to perform essential management and operational tasks. Restricting administrative privileges reduces the attack surface and prevents unauthorized or accidental changes that could compromise the security and integrity of the package repository.
Rationale:
Minimizing the number of administrators enforces the principle of least privilege, reducing risks of insider threats, accidental misconfiguration, or malicious activity. It enhances accountability and helps maintain tight control over critical package registry configurations and access.
Impact:
Pros:
Reduces risk of unauthorized access or changes.
Simplifies management and auditing of privileged accounts.
Supports compliance with security best practices and policies.
Cons:
May create bottlenecks if administrative duties are too narrowly assigned.
Requires careful succession and access management planning.
Default value:
Some package registries may have more administrators than necessary by default, increasing risk.
Audit:
Review the list of administrators and their access levels in the package registry. Verify that only essential personnel have administrative rights and that access reviews occur regularly.
Remediation:
Define and enforce policies to limit administrative accounts. Remove or downgrade unnecessary administrator privileges. Implement periodic access reviews and approval workflows for administrative access changes.
References:
npm Access Control: https://docs.npmjs.com/using-npm/teams-and-organizations
Sonatype Nexus Repository Roles and Privileges: https://help.sonatype.com/repomanager3/security/roles-and-privileges
CIS Controls v8, Control 4 - Secure Configuration of Enterprise Assets and Software: https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/secure-configuration-of-enterprise-assets-and-software/