| name | SI-2(6)_removal-of-previous-versions-of-software-and-firmware |
| description | Remove previous versions of [organization-defined] after updated versions have been installed. |
| category | input-validation |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","si-2-6","si","enhancement"] |
| tech_stack | ["aws","azure","gcp","linux","windows"] |
| cwe_ids | ["CWE-20"] |
| chains_with | [] |
| prerequisites | ["SI-2"] |
| severity_boost | {} |
SI-2(6) Removal of Previous Versions of Software and Firmware
Enhancement of: SI-2
High-Level Description
Family: System and Information Integrity (SI)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Previous versions of software or firmware components that are not removed from the system after updates have been installed may be exploited by adversaries. Some products may automatically remove previous versions of software and firmware from the system.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for SI-2(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
Remove previous versions of [organization-defined] after updated versions have been installed.
Implementation Guidance
Previous versions of software or firmware components that are not removed from the system after updates have been installed may be exploited by adversaries. Some products may automatically remove previous versions of software and firmware from the system.
Risk Assessment
