| name | CA-5_plan-of-action-and-milestones |
| description | Develop a plan of action and milestones for the system to document the planned remediation actions of the organization to correct weaknesses or def... |
| category | configuration |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","ca-5","ca"] |
| tech_stack | ["any"] |
| cwe_ids | [] |
| chains_with | ["CA-2","CA-7","PM-4","PM-9","RA-7","SI-2","SI-12"] |
| prerequisites | [] |
| severity_boost | {"CA-2":"Chain with CA-2 for comprehensive security coverage","CA-7":"Chain with CA-7 for comprehensive security coverage","PM-4":"Chain with PM-4 for comprehensive security coverage"} |
CA-5 Plan of Action and Milestones
High-Level Description
Family: Assessment, Authorization, and Monitoring (CA)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Plans of action and milestones are useful for any type of organization to track planned remedial actions. Plans of action and milestones are required in authorization packages and subject to federal reporting requirements established by OMB.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for CA-5 implementation details. Verify the organization has documented how this control is satisfied.
Step 2: Validate Implementation
# For cloud environments, use cloud-audit-mcp tools
# For on-premises, review system configurations directly
# Example: Check if account management policies exist
grep -r "account.management\|access.control" /etc/security/ 2>/dev/null
Step 3: Test Operating Effectiveness
Verify the control is actively functioning, not just documented. Check logs, configurations, and operational evidence.
Tools
| Tool | Purpose | Usage |
|---|
| Manual Review | Documentation and interview-based | N/A |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Develop a plan of action and milestones for the system to document the planned remediation actions of the organization to correct weaknesses or deficiencies noted during the assessment of the controls and to reduce or eliminate known vulnerabilities in the system; and
Update existing plan of action and milestones [organization-defined] based on the findings from control assessments, independent audits or reviews, and continuous monitoring activities.
Implementation Guidance
Plans of action and milestones are useful for any type of organization to track planned remedial actions. Plans of action and milestones are required in authorization packages and subject to federal reporting requirements established by OMB.
Risk Assessment
