| name | CM-3(7)_review-system-changes |
| description | Review changes to the system [organization-defined] or when [organization-defined] to determine whether unauthorized changes have occurred. |
| category | configuration |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","cm-3-7","cm","enhancement"] |
| tech_stack | ["aws","azure","gcp","linux","windows"] |
| cwe_ids | ["CWE-16"] |
| chains_with | ["AU-6","AU-7","CM-3"] |
| prerequisites | ["CM-3"] |
| severity_boost | {"AU-6":"Chain with AU-6 for comprehensive security coverage","AU-7":"Chain with AU-7 for comprehensive security coverage","CM-3":"Chain with CM-3 for comprehensive security coverage"} |
CM-3(7) Review System Changes
Enhancement of: CM-3
High-Level Description
Family: Configuration Management (CM)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Indications that warrant a review of changes to the system and the specific circumstances justifying such reviews may be obtained from activities carried out by organizations during the configuration change process or continuous monitoring process.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for CM-3(7) 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 configuration baselines | cloud_audit_config |
| AWS CLI | Review Config rules | aws configservice describe-config-rules |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Review changes to the system [organization-defined] or when [organization-defined] to determine whether unauthorized changes have occurred.
Implementation Guidance
Indications that warrant a review of changes to the system and the specific circumstances justifying such reviews may be obtained from activities carried out by organizations during the configuration change process or continuous monitoring process.
Risk Assessment
