| name | MA-4(4)_authentication-and-separation-of-maintenance-sessions |
| description | Protect nonlocal maintenance sessions by: Employing [organization-defined] ; and Separating the maintenance sessions from other network sessions with |
| category | configuration |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","ma-4-4","ma","enhancement"] |
| tech_stack | ["linux","windows"] |
| cwe_ids | [] |
| chains_with | [] |
| prerequisites | ["MA-4"] |
| severity_boost | {} |
MA-4(4) Authentication and Separation of Maintenance Sessions
Enhancement of: MA-4
High-Level Description
Family: Maintenance (MA)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Communications paths can be logically separated using encryption.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for MA-4(4) 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
Protect nonlocal maintenance sessions by:
Employing [organization-defined] ; and
Separating the maintenance sessions from other network sessions with the system by either:
Physically separated communications paths; or
Logically separated communications paths.
Implementation Guidance
Communications paths can be logically separated using encryption.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|
| MA-4(4) Authentication and Separation of Maintenance Sessions not implemented |
