AC-18(4) Restrict Configurations by Users
Enhancement of: AC-18
High-Level Description
Family: Access Control (AC)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Organizational authorizations to allow selected users to configure wireless networking capabilities are enforced, in part, by the access enforcement mechanisms employed within organizational systems.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for AC-18(4) 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 IAM policies and access controls | cloud_audit_iam_policies |
| hackbrowser-mcp | Test web application access controls | browser_auth_test |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Identify and explicitly authorize users allowed to independently configure wireless networking capabilities.
Implementation Guidance
Organizational authorizations to allow selected users to configure wireless networking capabilities are enforced, in part, by the access enforcement mechanisms employed within organizational systems.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|
| AC-18(4) Restrict Configurations by Users not implemented | High | Access Control |
| AC-18(4) partially implemented | Medium | Incomplete Access Control |
CWE Categories
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|
| CWE-284 | Improper Access Control |
References
Checklist