| name | CM-5(5)_privilege-limitation-for-production-and-operation |
| description | Limit privileges to change system components and system-related information within a production or operational environment; |
| category | configuration |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","cm-5-5","cm","enhancement"] |
| tech_stack | ["aws","azure","gcp","linux","windows"] |
| cwe_ids | ["CWE-16"] |
| chains_with | ["AC-2"] |
| prerequisites | ["CM-5"] |
| severity_boost | {"AC-2":"Chain with AC-2 for comprehensive security coverage"} |
CM-5(5) Privilege Limitation for Production and Operation
Enhancement of: CM-5
High-Level Description
Family: Configuration Management (CM)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
In many organizations, systems support multiple mission and business functions. Limiting privileges to change system components with respect to operational systems is necessary because changes to a system component may have far-reaching effects on mission and business processes supported by the system. The relationships between systems and mission/business processes are, in some cases, unknown to developers. System-related information includes operational procedures.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for CM-5(5) 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
Limit privileges to change system components and system-related information within a production or operational environment; and
Review and reevaluate privileges [organization-defined].
