| name | SI-7(6)_cryptographic-protection |
| description | Implement cryptographic mechanisms to detect unauthorized changes to software, firmware, and information. |
| category | input-validation |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","si-7-6","si","enhancement"] |
| tech_stack | ["aws","azure","gcp","linux","windows"] |
| cwe_ids | ["CWE-20"] |
| chains_with | ["SC-12","SC-13"] |
| prerequisites | ["SI-7"] |
| severity_boost | {"SC-12":"Chain with SC-12 for comprehensive security coverage","SC-13":"Chain with SC-13 for comprehensive security coverage"} |
SI-7(6) Cryptographic Protection
Enhancement of: SI-7
High-Level Description
Family: System and Information Integrity (SI)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Cryptographic mechanisms used to protect integrity include digital signatures and the computation and application of signed hashes using asymmetric cryptography, protecting the confidentiality of the key used to generate the hash, and using the public key to verify the hash information. Organizations that employ cryptographic mechanisms also consider cryptographic key management solutions.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for SI-7(6) 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 integrity monitoring | cloud_audit_monitoring |
| AWS CLI | Review GuardDuty/Inspector | aws guardduty list-detectors |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Implement cryptographic mechanisms to detect unauthorized changes to software, firmware, and information.
Implementation Guidance
Cryptographic mechanisms used to protect integrity include digital signatures and the computation and application of signed hashes using asymmetric cryptography, protecting the confidentiality of the key used to generate the hash, and using the public key to verify the hash information. Organizations that employ cryptographic mechanisms also consider cryptographic key management solutions.
