| name | RA-5(4)_discoverable-information |
| description | Determine information about the system that is discoverable and take [organization-defined]. |
| category | information-gathering |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","ra-5-4","ra","enhancement"] |
| tech_stack | ["any"] |
| cwe_ids | [] |
| chains_with | ["AU-13","SC-26"] |
| prerequisites | ["RA-5"] |
| severity_boost | {"AU-13":"Chain with AU-13 for comprehensive security coverage","SC-26":"Chain with SC-26 for comprehensive security coverage"} |
RA-5(4) Discoverable Information
Enhancement of: RA-5
High-Level Description
Family: Risk Assessment (RA)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Discoverable information includes information that adversaries could obtain without compromising or breaching the system, such as by collecting information that the system is exposing or by conducting extensive web searches. Corrective actions include notifying appropriate organizational personnel, removing designated information, or changing the system to make the designated information less relevant or attractive to adversaries. This enhancement excludes intentionally discoverable information that may be part of a decoy capability (e.g., honeypots, honeynets, or deception nets) deployed by the organization.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for RA-5(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
Determine information about the system that is discoverable and take [organization-defined].
Implementation Guidance
Discoverable information includes information that adversaries could obtain without compromising or breaching the system, such as by collecting information that the system is exposing or by conducting extensive web searches. Corrective actions include notifying appropriate organizational personnel, removing designated information, or changing the system to make the designated information less relevant or attractive to adversaries. This enhancement excludes intentionally discoverable information that may be part of a decoy capability (e.g., honeypots, honeynets, or deception nets) deployed by the organization.
