SC-40 Wireless Link Protection
Guidance: nonePolicy clause: noneWhat these mean
sc40ctl| Baselines | Implementation level | Enhancements |
|---|---|---|
| Not in a baseline | System | 4 (0 in a baseline) |
Control statement
Section titled “Control statement”Protect external and internal [Assignment: organization-defined wireless links] from the following signal parameter attacks: [Assignment: organization-defined types of signal parameter attacks or references to sources for such attacks].
NIST discussion
Wireless link protection applies to internal and external wireless communication links that may be visible to individuals who are not authorized system users. Adversaries can exploit the signal parameters of wireless links if such links are not adequately protected. There are many ways to exploit the signal parameters of wireless links to gain intelligence, deny service, or spoof system users. Protection of wireless links reduces the impact of attacks that are unique to wireless systems. If organizations rely on commercial service providers for transmission services as commodity items rather than as fully dedicated services, it may not be possible to implement wireless link protections to the extent necessary to meet organizational security requirements.
Control enhancements
Section titled “Control enhancements”SC-40(1) Electromagnetic Interference
Section titled “SC-40(1) Electromagnetic Interference”Baselines: Not in a baseline
Implement cryptographic mechanisms that achieve [Assignment: organization-defined level of protection] against the effects of intentional electromagnetic interference.
Discussion and assessment objectives for SC-40(1)
The implementation of cryptographic mechanisms for electromagnetic interference protects systems against intentional jamming that might deny or impair communications by ensuring that wireless spread spectrum waveforms used to provide anti-jam protection are not predictable by unauthorized individuals. The implementation of cryptographic mechanisms may also coincidentally mitigate the effects of unintentional jamming due to interference from legitimate transmitters that share the same spectrum. Mission requirements, projected threats, concept of operations, and laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, and standards determine levels of wireless link availability, cryptography needed, and performance.
Determine if cryptographic mechanisms that achieve [Assignment: organization-defined level of protection] against the effects of intentional electromagnetic interference are implemented.
Examine: System and communications protection policy; access control policy and procedures; procedures addressing wireless link protection; system design documentation; wireless network diagrams; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system architecture; system communications hardware and software; security categorization results; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records.
Interview: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system developer; organizational personnel installing, configuring, and/or maintaining the system; organizational personnel authorizing, installing, configuring, and/or maintaining internal and external wireless links.
Test: Cryptographic mechanisms enforcing protections against effects of intentional electromagnetic interference.
SC-40(2) Reduce Detection Potential
Section titled “SC-40(2) Reduce Detection Potential”Baselines: Not in a baseline
Implement cryptographic mechanisms to reduce the detection potential of wireless links to [Assignment: organization-defined level of reduction].
Discussion and assessment objectives for SC-40(2)
The implementation of cryptographic mechanisms to reduce detection potential is used for covert communications and to protect wireless transmitters from geo-location. It also ensures that the spread spectrum waveforms used to achieve a low probability of detection are not predictable by unauthorized individuals. Mission requirements, projected threats, concept of operations, and applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, and standards determine the levels to which wireless links are undetectable.
Determine if cryptographic mechanisms to reduce the detection potential of wireless links to [Assignment: organization-defined level of reduction] are implemented.
Examine: System and communications protection policy; access control policy and procedures; procedures addressing wireless link protection; system design documentation; wireless network diagrams; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system architecture; system communications hardware and software; security categorization results; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records.
Interview: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system developer; organizational personnel installing, configuring, and/or maintaining the system; organizational personnel authorizing, installing, configuring, and/or maintaining internal and external wireless links.
Test: Cryptographic mechanisms enforcing protections to reduce the detection of wireless links.
SC-40(3) Imitative or Manipulative Communications Deception
Section titled “SC-40(3) Imitative or Manipulative Communications Deception”Baselines: Not in a baseline
Implement cryptographic mechanisms to identify and reject wireless transmissions that are deliberate attempts to achieve imitative or manipulative communications deception based on signal parameters.
Discussion and assessment objectives for SC-40(3)
The implementation of cryptographic mechanisms to identify and reject imitative or manipulative communications ensures that the signal parameters of wireless transmissions are not predictable by unauthorized individuals. Such unpredictability reduces the probability of imitative or manipulative communications deception based on signal parameters alone.
Determine if cryptographic mechanisms are implemented to identify and reject wireless transmissions that are deliberate attempts to achieve imitative or manipulative communications deception based on signal parameters.
Examine: System and communications protection policy; access control policy and procedures; procedures addressing system design documentation; wireless network diagrams; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system architecture; system communications hardware and software; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records.
Interview: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system developer; organizational personnel installing, configuring, and/or maintaining the system; organizational personnel authorizing, installing, configuring, and/or maintaining internal and external wireless links.
Test: Cryptographic mechanisms enforcing wireless link protections against imitative or manipulative communications deception.
SC-40(4) Signal Parameter Identification
Section titled “SC-40(4) Signal Parameter Identification”Baselines: Not in a baseline
Implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent the identification of [Assignment: organization-defined wireless transmitters] by using the transmitter signal parameters.
Discussion and assessment objectives for SC-40(4)
The implementation of cryptographic mechanisms to prevent the identification of wireless transmitters protects against the unique identification of wireless transmitters for the purposes of intelligence exploitation by ensuring that anti-fingerprinting alterations to signal parameters are not predictable by unauthorized individuals. It also provides anonymity when required. Radio fingerprinting techniques identify the unique signal parameters of transmitters to fingerprint such transmitters for purposes of tracking and mission or user identification.
Determine if cryptographic mechanisms are implemented to prevent the identification of [Assignment: organization-defined wireless transmitters] by using the transmitter signal parameters.
Examine: System and communications protection policy; access control policy and procedures; procedures addressing system design documentation; wireless network diagrams; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system architecture; system communications hardware and software; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records.
Interview: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system developer; organizational personnel installing, configuring, and/or maintaining the system; organizational personnel authorizing, installing, configuring, and/or maintaining internal and external wireless links.
Test: Cryptographic mechanisms preventing the identification of wireless transmitters.
Assessment objectives (SP 800-53A)
Section titled “Assessment objectives (SP 800-53A)”Objectives and methods for SC-40
Determine if:
- SC-40[01] external [Assignment: organization-defined wireless links] are protected from [Assignment: organization-defined types of signal parameter attacks or references to sources for such attacks].
- SC-40[02] internal [Assignment: organization-defined wireless links] are protected from [Assignment: organization-defined types of signal parameter attacks or references to sources for such attacks].
Examine: System and communications protection policy; access control policy and procedures; procedures addressing wireless link protection; system design documentation; wireless network diagrams; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system architecture; list of internal and external wireless links; list of signal parameter attacks or references to sources for attacks; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records.
Interview: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system developer; organizational personnel installing, configuring, and/or maintaining the system; organizational personnel authorizing, installing, configuring, and/or maintaining internal and external wireless links.
Test: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the protection of wireless links.
Independent guidance, not an official NIST publication. Control text is from NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 and SP 800-53A (public domain). Original content is licensed CC BY 4.0; program templates and the downloadable kit are dedicated to the public domain under CC0 1.0.