Symmetric keys should use a master key, certificate, or asymmetric key to encrypt the key.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-15168	DM6183-SQLServer9	SV-23862r1_rule	IAKM-1 IAKM-2 IAKM-3	Medium

Description
Symmetric keys are vulnerable if the symmetric key encryption is not protected from disclosure. Symmetric keys are well protected by use of either the database or the service master key. Where access by DBA's is not acceptable, use of the application code-signing certificate can be used to provide protection.

STIG	Date
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Database Security Technical Implementation Guide	2015-04-03

Details

Check Text ( None )
None

Fix Text (F-14858r1_fix)
Configure or alter symmetric keys to encrypt keys with certificates or authorized asymmetric keys: From the query prompt: ALTER SYMMETRIC KEY [key name] ADD ENCRYPTION BY CERTIFICATE [certificate name] ALTER SYMMETRIC KEY [key name] DROP ENCRYPTION BY [password, symmetric key or asymmetric key] The symmetric key must specify a certificate or asymmetric key for encryption. The certificate may be the code-signing certificate used by the application.

Fix Text (F-14858r1_fix)

Configure or alter symmetric keys to encrypt keys with certificates or authorized asymmetric keys:

From the query prompt:

ALTER SYMMETRIC KEY [key name] ADD ENCRYPTION BY CERTIFICATE [certificate name]
ALTER SYMMETRIC KEY [key name] DROP ENCRYPTION BY [password, symmetric key or asymmetric key]

The symmetric key must specify a certificate or asymmetric key for encryption.

The certificate may be the code-signing certificate used by the application.