SI-10(4)_timing-interactions
DevOps & SecurityAccount for timing interactions among system components in determining appropriate responses for invalid inputs.
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SI-10(4) Timing Interactions
Enhancement of: SI-10
High-Level Description
Family: System and Information Integrity (SI) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
In addressing invalid system inputs received across protocol interfaces, timing interactions become relevant, where one protocol needs to consider the impact of the error response on other protocols in the protocol stack. For example, 802.11 standard wireless network protocols do not interact well with Transmission Control Protocols (TCP) when packets are dropped (which could be due to invalid packet input). TCP assumes packet losses are due to congestion, while packets lost over 802.11 links are typically dropped due to noise or collisions on the link. If TCP makes a congestion response, it takes the wrong action in response to a collision event. Adversaries may be able to use what appear to be acceptable individual behaviors of the protocols in concert to achieve adverse effects through suitable construction of invalid input. The invalid inputs are those related to the information inputs defined by the organization in the base control ( SI-10).
What to Check
- Verify SI-10(4) Timing Interactions is documented in SSP
- Confirm control is operating effectively
- Review evidence of continuous monitoring for SI-10(4)
- Verify enhancement builds upon base control SI-10
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for SI-10(4) 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 integrity monitoring | cloud_audit_monitoring |
| AWS CLI | Review GuardDuty/Inspector | aws guardduty list-detectors |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Account for timing interactions among system components in determining appropriate responses for invalid inputs.
Implementation Guidance
In addressing invalid system inputs received across protocol interfaces, timing interactions become relevant, where one protocol needs to consider the impact of the error response on other protocols in the protocol stack. For example, 802.11 standard wireless network protocols do not interact well with Transmission Control Protocols (TCP) when packets are dropped (which could be due to invalid packet input). TCP assumes packet losses are due to congestion, while packets lost over 802.11 links are typically dropped due to noise or collisions on the link. If TCP makes a congestion response, it takes the wrong action in response to a collision event. Adversaries may be able to use what appear to be acceptable individual behaviors of the protocols in concert to achieve adverse effects through suitable construction of invalid input. The invalid inputs are those related to the information inputs defined by the organization in the base control ( SI-10).
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| SI-10(4) Timing Interactions not implemented | High | System and Information Integrity |
| SI-10(4) partially implemented | Medium | Incomplete System and Information Integrity |
CWE Categories
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|---|
| CWE-20 | Improper Input Validation |
References
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - SI-10(4)
- 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