| name | CM-6(2)_respond-to-unauthorized-changes |
| description | Take the following actions in response to unauthorized changes to [organization-defined]: [organization-defined]. |
| category | configuration |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","cm-6-2","cm","enhancement"] |
| tech_stack | ["aws","azure","gcp","linux","windows"] |
| cwe_ids | ["CWE-16"] |
| chains_with | ["IR-4","IR-6","SI-7"] |
| prerequisites | ["CM-6"] |
| severity_boost | {"IR-4":"Chain with IR-4 for comprehensive security coverage","IR-6":"Chain with IR-6 for comprehensive security coverage","SI-7":"Chain with SI-7 for comprehensive security coverage"} |
CM-6(2) Respond to Unauthorized Changes
Enhancement of: CM-6
High-Level Description
Family: Configuration Management (CM)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Responses to unauthorized changes to configuration settings include alerting designated organizational personnel, restoring established configuration settings, or—in extreme cases—halting affected system processing.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for CM-6(2) 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
Take the following actions in response to unauthorized changes to [organization-defined]: [organization-defined].
Implementation Guidance
Responses to unauthorized changes to configuration settings include alerting designated organizational personnel, restoring established configuration settings, or—in extreme cases—halting affected system processing.
Risk Assessment
