The application server must utilize NSA-approved cryptography when protecting classified compartmentalized data.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-35341	SRG-APP-000196-AS-000138	SV-46628r1_rule		Medium

Description
Cryptography is only as strong as the encryption modules/algorithms employed to encrypt the data. Use of weak or untested encryption algorithms undermines the purposes of utilizing encryption to protect data. Encryption modules/algorithms are the mathematical procedures used for encrypting data. NSA has developed Type 1 algorithms for protecting classified information. The Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) National Information Assurance Glossary (CNSS Instruction No. 4009) defines Type 1 products as: "Cryptographic equipment, assembly or component classified or certified by NSA for encrypting and decrypting classified and sensitive national security information when appropriately keyed. Developed using established NSA business processes and containing NSA-approved algorithms are used to protect systems requiring the most stringent protection mechanisms." Although persons may have a security clearance, they may not have a "need to know" and are required to be separated from the information in question. The application server must employ NSA-approved cryptography to protect classified information from those individuals who have no "need to know" or when encryption of compartmentalized data is required by data classification.

Description

Cryptography is only as strong as the encryption modules/algorithms employed to encrypt the data. Use of weak or untested encryption algorithms undermines the purposes of utilizing encryption to protect data. Encryption modules/algorithms are the mathematical procedures used for encrypting data. NSA has developed Type 1 algorithms for protecting classified information. The Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) National Information Assurance Glossary (CNSS Instruction No. 4009) defines Type 1 products as: "Cryptographic equipment, assembly or component classified or certified by NSA for encrypting and decrypting classified and sensitive national security information when appropriately keyed. Developed using established NSA business processes and containing NSA-approved algorithms are used to protect systems requiring the most stringent protection mechanisms." Although persons may have a security clearance, they may not have a "need to know" and are required to be separated from the information in question. The application server must employ NSA-approved cryptography to protect classified information from those individuals who have no "need to know" or when encryption of compartmentalized data is required by data classification.

STIG	Date
Application Server Security Requirements Guide	2013-01-08

Details

Check Text ( C-43709r1_chk )
Review policy documents to identify classified data that is compartmentalized and requires cryptographic protection. Review system configuration to identify the encryption modules utilized to protect the compartmentalized data. If the encryption modules used to protect the compartmentalized data are not NSA approved, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-39887r2_fix)
Configure the application server to utilize NSA-approved cryptography when protecting classified compartmentalized data.