Firmware on the USB flash drive and external hard drive will be signed and verified with either Hashed Message Authentication Code (HMAC) or digital signatures.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-22174	STO-DRV-040	SV-25812r1_rule	DCNR-1	Low

Description
Several security incidents have occurred when the firmware on devices contained malware. For devices used to store or transfer sensitive information, if the firmware is signed, then this provides added assurance that the firmware has not been compromised.

STIG	Date
Removable Storage and External Connection Technologies STIG	2011-01-18

Details

Check Text ( C-27323r1_chk )
Further policy details: 1. The minimum HMAC for signature algorithm values are HMAC-SHA256 and Rivest-Shimir-Alderman (RSA) 2048 or better. 2. This requirement applies to USB thumb drives. This requirement also applies to external hard disk drives regardless of connection type (e.g., eSATA, firewire, or USB). 3. This requirement applies to media and devices used for storage of high value data or for transfer between systems with differing classification or trust levels (e.g., contrator to government system). 4. Use of approved devices will ensure use of products with this feature. Check: Verify use of approved devices from the DAR-approved products list for flash drive and removable storage devices.

Check Text ( C-27323r1_chk )

Further policy details:

1. The minimum HMAC for signature algorithm values are HMAC-SHA256 and Rivest-Shimir-Alderman (RSA) 2048 or better.

2. This requirement applies to USB thumb drives. This requirement also applies to external hard disk drives regardless of connection type (e.g., eSATA, firewire, or USB).

3. This requirement applies to media and devices used for storage of high value data or for transfer between systems with differing classification or trust levels (e.g., contrator to government system).

4. Use of approved devices will ensure use of products with this feature.

Check:

Verify use of approved devices from the DAR-approved products list for flash drive and removable storage devices.