| name | AU-9(3)_cryptographic-protection |
| description | Implement cryptographic mechanisms to protect the integrity of audit information and audit tools. |
| category | information-gathering |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","au-9-3","au","enhancement"] |
| tech_stack | ["aws","azure","gcp","linux","windows"] |
| cwe_ids | ["CWE-778"] |
| chains_with | ["AU-10","SC-12","SC-13"] |
| prerequisites | ["AU-9"] |
| severity_boost | {"AU-10":"Chain with AU-10 for comprehensive security coverage","SC-12":"Chain with SC-12 for comprehensive security coverage","SC-13":"Chain with SC-13 for comprehensive security coverage"} |
AU-9(3) Cryptographic Protection
Enhancement of: AU-9
High-Level Description
Family: Audit and Accountability (AU)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Cryptographic mechanisms used for protecting the integrity of audit information include signed hash functions using asymmetric cryptography. This enables the distribution of the public key to verify the hash information while maintaining the confidentiality of the secret key used to generate the hash.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for AU-9(3) 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 logging configuration | cloud_audit_logging |
| AWS CLI | Review CloudTrail/CloudWatch | aws cloudtrail describe-trails |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Implement cryptographic mechanisms to protect the integrity of audit information and audit tools.
Implementation Guidance
Cryptographic mechanisms used for protecting the integrity of audit information include signed hash functions using asymmetric cryptography. This enables the distribution of the public key to verify the hash information while maintaining the confidentiality of the secret key used to generate the hash.
