AU-9(3)_cryptographic-protection
DevOps & SecurityAU-9(3)_cryptographic-protection is an Agent Skill for devops & security published in the CyberStrikeus/CyberStrike repository on GitHub: a SKILL.md instruction file an AI agent can load to do this task.
Implement cryptographic mechanisms to protect the integrity of audit information and audit tools.
How to use this skill
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Inspect the Agent Skill at https://github.com/CyberStrikeus/CyberStrike/blob/HEAD/.cyberstrike/skill/NIST/SP800-53_rev5/AU_audit-and-accountability/AU-9(3)_cryptographic-protection/SKILL.md and all supporting files. Report provenance, permissions, scripts, dependencies, and security risks. Propose an exact installation into .agents/skills/au-9-3-cryptographic-protection, but wait for my approval before writing files or running scripts.
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AU-9(3) Cryptographic Protection
Enhancement of: AU-9
High-Level Description
Family: Audit and Accountability (AU) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Cryptographic mechanisms used for protecting the integrity of audit information include signed hash functions using asymmetric cryptography. This enables the distribution of the public key to verify the hash information while maintaining the confidentiality of the secret key used to generate the hash.
What to Check
- Verify AU-9(3) Cryptographic Protection is documented in SSP
- Confirm control is operating effectively
- Review evidence of continuous monitoring for AU-9(3)
- Verify enhancement builds upon base control AU-9
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for AU-9(3) implementation details. Verify the organization has documented how this control is satisfied.
Step 2: Validate Implementation
# For cloud environments, use cloud-audit-mcp tools
# For on-premises, review system configurations directly
# Example: Check if account management policies exist
grep -r "account.management\|access.control" /etc/security/ 2>/dev/null
Step 3: Test Operating Effectiveness
Verify the control is actively functioning, not just documented. Check logs, configurations, and operational evidence.
Tools
| Tool | Purpose | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| cloud-audit-mcp | Check logging configuration | cloud_audit_logging |
| AWS CLI | Review CloudTrail/CloudWatch | aws cloudtrail describe-trails |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Implement cryptographic mechanisms to protect the integrity of audit information and audit tools.
Implementation Guidance
Cryptographic mechanisms used for protecting the integrity of audit information include signed hash functions using asymmetric cryptography. This enables the distribution of the public key to verify the hash information while maintaining the confidentiality of the secret key used to generate the hash.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| AU-9(3) Cryptographic Protection not implemented | Medium | Audit and Accountability |
| AU-9(3) partially implemented | Low | Incomplete Audit and Accountability |
CWE Categories
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|---|
| CWE-778 | Insufficient Logging |
References
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - AU-9(3)
- NIST SP 800-53A Rev 5 (Assessment Procedures)
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 Full Catalog
Checklist
- Control documented in SSP
- Implementation evidence collected
- Operating effectiveness validated
- Continuous monitoring in place
- Related controls (AU-10, SC-12, SC-13) reviewed