The Cisco ISE must use FIPS-validated Keyed-Hash Message Authentication Code (HMAC) to protect the integrity of nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic communications.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-242654	CSCO-NM-000490	SV-242654r961554_rule		Medium

Description
Unapproved mechanisms that are used for authentication to the cryptographic module are not verified and therefore cannot be relied upon to provide confidentiality or integrity, and DoD data may be compromised. Nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic activities are those activities conducted by individuals communicating through a network, either an external network (e.g., the Internet) or an internal network. Currently, HMAC is the only FIPS-approved algorithm for generating and verifying message/data authentication codes in accordance with FIPS 198-1. Products that are FIPS 140-2 validated will have an HMAC that meets specification; however, the option must be configured for use as the only message authentication code used for authentication to cryptographic modules. Separate requirements for configuring applications and protocols used by each application (e.g., SNMPv3, SSHv2, NTP, HTTPS, and other protocols and applications that require server/client authentication) are required to implement this requirement. Where SSH is used, the SSHv2 protocol suite is required because it includes Layer 7 protocols such as SCP and SFTP, which can be used for secure file transfers.

Description

Unapproved mechanisms that are used for authentication to the cryptographic module are not verified and therefore cannot be relied upon to provide confidentiality or integrity, and DoD data may be compromised. Nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic activities are those activities conducted by individuals communicating through a network, either an external network (e.g., the Internet) or an internal network. Currently, HMAC is the only FIPS-approved algorithm for generating and verifying message/data authentication codes in accordance with FIPS 198-1. Products that are FIPS 140-2 validated will have an HMAC that meets specification; however, the option must be configured for use as the only message authentication code used for authentication to cryptographic modules. Separate requirements for configuring applications and protocols used by each application (e.g., SNMPv3, SSHv2, NTP, HTTPS, and other protocols and applications that require server/client authentication) are required to implement this requirement. Where SSH is used, the SSHv2 protocol suite is required because it includes Layer 7 protocols such as SCP and SFTP, which can be used for secure file transfers.

STIG	Date
Cisco ISE NDM Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-06-10

Details

Check Text ( C-45929r864213_chk )
Navigate to Administration >> System >> Settings >> FIPS Mode. Verify FIPS Mode is enabled. If FIPS Mode is enabled, this is not a finding. If FIPS mode is not configured, but the Cisco ISE is configured using an alternative manual method to configure to configure a FIPS 140-2/3 validated HMAC to protect the integrity of nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic communication, this can be lowered to a CAT 3 finding.

Check Text ( C-45929r864213_chk )

Navigate to Administration >> System >> Settings >> FIPS Mode.

Verify FIPS Mode is enabled.

If FIPS Mode is enabled, this is not a finding.

If FIPS mode is not configured, but the Cisco ISE is configured using an alternative manual method to configure to configure a FIPS 140-2/3 validated HMAC to protect the integrity of nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic communication, this can be lowered to a CAT 3 finding.

Fix Text (F-45886r864214_fix)
Enable FIPS Mode in Cisco ISE to ensure FIPS 140-2/3 algorithms are used in all security functions requiring cryptographic functions. 1. Choose Administration >> System >> Settings >> FIPS Mode. 2. Choose the "Enabled" option from the FIPS Mode drop-down list. 3. Click "Save" and restart the node. NOTE: Configuring FIPS mode is the required DoD configuration. However, this requirement can be lowered to a CAT 3 if the alternative manual configuration is used to configure a FIPS 140-2/3 validated HMAC to protect the integrity of nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic communications.

Fix Text (F-45886r864214_fix)

Enable FIPS Mode in Cisco ISE to ensure FIPS 140-2/3 algorithms are used in all security functions requiring cryptographic functions.

1. Choose Administration >> System >> Settings >> FIPS Mode.
2. Choose the "Enabled" option from the FIPS Mode drop-down list.
3. Click "Save" and restart the node.

NOTE: Configuring FIPS mode is the required DoD configuration. However, this requirement can be lowered to a CAT 3 if the alternative manual configuration is used to configure a FIPS 140-2/3 validated HMAC to protect the integrity of nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic communications.