| name | SC-12_cryptographic-key-establishment-and-management |
| description | Establish and manage cryptographic keys when cryptography is employed within the system in accordance with the following key management requirements: |
| category | configuration |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","sc-12","sc"] |
| tech_stack | ["aws","azure","gcp","linux","windows","network"] |
| cwe_ids | ["CWE-311"] |
| chains_with | ["AC-17","AU-9","AU-10","CM-3","IA-3","IA-7","IA-13","SA-4","SA-8","SA-9"] |
| prerequisites | [] |
| severity_boost | {"AC-17":"Chain with AC-17 for comprehensive security coverage","AU-9":"Chain with AU-9 for comprehensive security coverage","AU-10":"Chain with AU-10 for comprehensive security coverage"} |
SC-12 Cryptographic Key Establishment and Management
High-Level Description
Family: System and Communications Protection (SC)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Cryptographic key management and establishment can be performed using manual procedures or automated mechanisms with supporting manual procedures. Organizations define key management requirements in accordance with applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines and specify appropriate options, parameters, and levels. Organizations manage trust stores to ensure that only approved trust anchors are part of such trust stores. This includes certificates with visibility external to organizational systems and certificates related to the internal operations of systems. NIST CMVP and NIST CAVP provide additional information on validated cryptographic modules and algorithms that can be used in cryptographic key management and establishment.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for SC-12 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 |
|---|
| cloud-audit-mcp | Check encryption and network controls | cloud_audit_encryption |
| nmap | Network scanning | nmap -sV --script ssl-enum-ciphers |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Establish and manage cryptographic keys when cryptography is employed within the system in accordance with the following key management requirements: [organization-defined].
