RA-5(3)_breadth-and-depth-of-coverage
DevOps & SecurityDefine the breadth and depth of vulnerability scanning coverage.
How to use this skill
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RA-5(3) Breadth and Depth of Coverage
Enhancement of: RA-5
High-Level Description
Family: Risk Assessment (RA) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
The breadth of vulnerability scanning coverage can be expressed as a percentage of components within the system, by the particular types of systems, by the criticality of systems, or by the number of vulnerabilities to be checked. Conversely, the depth of vulnerability scanning coverage can be expressed as the level of the system design that the organization intends to monitor (e.g., component, module, subsystem, element). Organizations can determine the sufficiency of vulnerability scanning coverage with regard to its risk tolerance and other factors. Scanning tools and how the tools are configured may affect the depth and coverage. Multiple scanning tools may be needed to achieve the desired depth and coverage. SP 800-53A provides additional information on the breadth and depth of coverage.
What to Check
- Verify RA-5(3) Breadth and Depth of Coverage is documented in SSP
- Confirm control is operating effectively
- Review evidence of continuous monitoring for RA-5(3)
- Verify enhancement builds upon base control RA-5
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for RA-5(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 |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Review | Documentation and interview-based | N/A |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Define the breadth and depth of vulnerability scanning coverage.
Implementation Guidance
The breadth of vulnerability scanning coverage can be expressed as a percentage of components within the system, by the particular types of systems, by the criticality of systems, or by the number of vulnerabilities to be checked. Conversely, the depth of vulnerability scanning coverage can be expressed as the level of the system design that the organization intends to monitor (e.g., component, module, subsystem, element). Organizations can determine the sufficiency of vulnerability scanning coverage with regard to its risk tolerance and other factors. Scanning tools and how the tools are configured may affect the depth and coverage. Multiple scanning tools may be needed to achieve the desired depth and coverage. SP 800-53A provides additional information on the breadth and depth of coverage.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| RA-5(3) Breadth and Depth of Coverage not implemented | Medium | Risk Assessment |
| RA-5(3) partially implemented | Low | Incomplete Risk Assessment |
CWE Categories
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|---|
| N/A | No direct CWE mapping |
References
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - RA-5(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 (none) reviewed