| name | MP-6_media-sanitization |
| description | Sanitize [organization-defined] prior to disposal, release out of organizational control, or release for reuse using [organization-defined] ; |
| category | configuration |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","mp-6","mp"] |
| tech_stack | ["linux","windows"] |
| cwe_ids | [] |
| chains_with | ["AC-3","AC-7","AU-11","MA-2","MA-3","MA-4","MA-5","PM-22","SI-12","SI-18"] |
| prerequisites | [] |
| severity_boost | {"AC-3":"Chain with AC-3 for comprehensive security coverage","AC-7":"Chain with AC-7 for comprehensive security coverage","AU-11":"Chain with AU-11 for comprehensive security coverage"} |
MP-6 Media Sanitization
High-Level Description
Family: Media Protection (MP)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Media sanitization applies to all digital and non-digital system media subject to disposal or reuse, whether or not the media is considered removable. Examples include digital media in scanners, copiers, printers, notebook computers, workstations, network components, mobile devices, and non-digital media (e.g., paper and microfilm). The sanitization process removes information from system media such that the information cannot be retrieved or reconstructed. Sanitization techniques—including clearing, purging, cryptographic erase, de-identification of personally identifiable information, and destruction—prevent the disclosure of information to unauthorized individuals when such media is reused or released for disposal. Organizations determine the appropriate sanitization methods, recognizing that destruction is sometimes necessary when other methods cannot be applied to media requiring sanitization. Organizations use discretion on the employment of approved sanitization techniques and procedures for media that contains information deemed to be in the public domain or publicly releasable or information deemed to have no adverse impact on organizations or individuals if released for reuse or disposal. Sanitization of non-digital media includes destruction, removing a classified appendix from an otherwise unclassified document, or redacting selected sections or words from a document by obscuring the redacted sections or words in a manner equivalent in effectiveness to removing them from the document. NSA standards and policies control the sanitization process for media that contains classified information. NARA policies control the sanitization process for controlled unclassified information.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for MP-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
