CM-3

CM-3 CONFIGURATION CHANGE CONTROL

Overview

Number	Title	Impact	Priority	Subject Area
CM-3	Configuration Change Control	MODERATE	P1	Configuration Management

Instructions
The organization: CM-3a. Determines the types of changes to the information system that are configuration-controlled; CM-3b. Reviews proposed configuration-controlled changes to the information system and approves or disapproves such changes with explicit consideration for security impact analyses; CM-3c. Documents configuration change decisions associated with the information system; CM-3d. Implements approved configuration-controlled changes to the information system; CM-3e. Retains records of configuration-controlled changes to the information system for Assignment: organization-defined time period; CM-3f. Audits and reviews activities associated with configuration-controlled changes to the information system; and CM-3g. Coordinates and provides oversight for configuration change control activities through Assignment: organization-defined configuration change control element (e.g., committee, board) that convenes Selection (one or more): Assignment: organization-defined frequency; Assignment: organization-defined configuration change conditions.

Instructions

The organization:

CM-3a.

Determines the types of changes to the information system that are configuration-controlled;

CM-3b.

Reviews proposed configuration-controlled changes to the information system and approves or disapproves such changes with explicit consideration for security impact analyses;

CM-3c.

Documents configuration change decisions associated with the information system;

CM-3d.

Implements approved configuration-controlled changes to the information system;

CM-3e.

Retains records of configuration-controlled changes to the information system for Assignment: organization-defined time period;

CM-3f.

Audits and reviews activities associated with configuration-controlled changes to the information system; and

CM-3g.

Coordinates and provides oversight for configuration change control activities through Assignment: organization-defined configuration change control element (e.g., committee, board) that convenes Selection (one or more): Assignment: organization-defined frequency; Assignment: organization-defined configuration change conditions.

Guidance
Configuration change controls for organizational information systems involve the systematic proposal, justification, implementation, testing, review, and disposition of changes to the systems, including system upgrades and modifications. Configuration change control includes changes to baseline configurations for components and configuration items of information systems, changes to configuration settings for information technology products (e.g., operating systems, applications, firewalls, routers, and mobile devices), unscheduled/unauthorized changes, and changes to remediate vulnerabilities. Typical processes for managing configuration changes to information systems include, for example, Configuration Control Boards that approve proposed changes to systems. For new development information systems or systems undergoing major upgrades, organizations consider including representatives from development organizations on the Configuration Control Boards. Auditing of changes includes activities before and after changes are made to organizational information systems and the auditing activities required to implement such changes.

Guidance

Configuration change controls for organizational information systems involve the systematic proposal, justification, implementation, testing, review, and disposition of changes to the systems, including system upgrades and modifications. Configuration change control includes changes to baseline configurations for components and configuration items of information systems, changes to configuration settings for information technology products (e.g., operating systems, applications, firewalls, routers, and mobile devices), unscheduled/unauthorized changes, and changes to remediate vulnerabilities. Typical processes for managing configuration changes to information systems include, for example, Configuration Control Boards that approve proposed changes to systems. For new development information systems or systems undergoing major upgrades, organizations consider including representatives from development organizations on the Configuration Control Boards. Auditing of changes includes activities before and after changes are made to organizational information systems and the auditing activities required to implement such changes.

Enhancements

CM-3 (1) Automated Document / Notification / Prohibition Of Changes

HIGH

The organization employs automated mechanisms to:

CM-3 (1)(a)

Document proposed changes to the information system;

CM-3 (1)(b)

Notify Assignment: organized-defined approval authorities of proposed changes to the information system and request change approval;

CM-3 (1)(c)

Highlight proposed changes to the information system that have not been approved or disapproved by Assignment: organization-defined time period;

CM-3 (1)(d)

Prohibit changes to the information system until designated approvals are received;

CM-3 (1)(e)

Document all changes to the information system; and

CM-3 (1)(f)

Notify Assignment: organization-defined personnel when approved changes to the information system are completed.

CM-3 (2) Test / Validate / Document Changes

MODERATE

Changes to information systems include modifications to hardware, software, or firmware components and configuration settings defined in CM-6. Organizations ensure that testing does not interfere with information system operations. Individuals/groups conducting tests understand organizational security policies and procedures, information system security policies and procedures, and the specific health, safety, and environmental risks associated with particular facilities/processes. Operational systems may need to be taken off-line, or replicated to the extent feasible, before testing can be conducted. If information systems must be taken off-line for testing, the tests are scheduled to occur during planned system outages whenever possible. If testing cannot be conducted on operational systems, organizations employ compensating controls (e.g., testing on replicated systems).

The organization tests, validates, and documents changes to the information system before implementing the changes on the operational system.

CM-3 (3) Automated Change Implementation

The organization employs automated mechanisms to implement changes to the current information system baseline and deploys the updated baseline across the installed base.

CM-3 (4) Security Representative

Information security representatives can include, for example, senior agency information security officers, information system security officers, or information system security managers. Representation by personnel with information security expertise is important because changes to information system configurations can have unintended side effects, some of which may be security-relevant. Detecting such changes early in the process can help avoid unintended, negative consequences that could ultimately affect the security state of organizational information systems. The configuration change control element in this control enhancement reflects the change control elements defined by organizations in CM-3.

The organization requires an information security representative to be a member of the Assignment: organization-defined configuration change control element.

CM-3 (5) Automated Security Response

Security responses include, for example, halting information system processing, halting selected system functions, or issuing alerts/notifications to organizational personnel when there is an unauthorized modification of a configuration item.

The information system implements Assignment: organization-defined security responses automatically if baseline configurations are changed in an unauthorized manner.

CM-3 (6) Cryptography Management

Regardless of the cryptographic means employed (e.g., public key, private key, shared secrets), organizations ensure that there are processes and procedures in place to effectively manage those means. For example, if devices use certificates as a basis for identification and authentication, there needs to be a process in place to address the expiration of those certificates.

The organization ensures that cryptographic mechanisms used to provide Assignment: organization-defined security safeguards are under configuration management.