Security Automation and Continuous Monitoring WG D. Waltermire Internet-Draft NIST Intended status: Informational A. Montville Expires: April 22, 2014 TW D. Harrington Effective Software October 19, 2013 Terminology for Security Assessment draft-ietf-sacm-terminology-01 Abstract This memo documents terminology used in the documents produced by the SACM WG (Security Automation and Continuous Monitoring). Status of This Memo This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79. Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Note that other groups may also distribute working documents as Internet-Drafts. The list of current Internet- Drafts is at http://datatracker.ietf.org/drafts/current/. Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any time. It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference material or to cite them other than as "work in progress." This Internet-Draft will expire on April 22, 2014. Copyright Notice Copyright (c) 2013 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the document authors. All rights reserved. This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal Provisions Relating to IETF Documents (http://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of publication of this document. Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect to this document. Code Components extracted from this document must include Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as described in the Simplified BSD License. Waltermire, et al. Expires April 22, 2014 [Page 1] Internet-Draft Terminology for Security Assessment October 2013 Table of Contents 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2. Terms and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2.1. Requirements Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 3. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 4. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 5. Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 6. Change Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 6.1. ietf-sacm-terminology-01- to -02- . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 6.2. -00- draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 7. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 7.1. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 7.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Authors' Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 1. Introduction Our goal with this document is to improve our agreement on the terminology used in documents produced by the IETF Working Group for Security Automation and Continuous Monitoring. Agreeing on terminology should help reach consensus on which problems we're trying to solve, and propose solutions and decide which ones to use. This document is expected to be temorary work product, and will probably be incorporated into the architecture or other document. 2. Terms and Definitions assessment Defined in [RFC5209] as "the process of collecting posture for a set of capabilities on the endpoint (e.g., host-based firewall) such that the appropriate validators may evaluate the posture against compliance policy." Within this document the use of the term is expanded to support other uses of collected posture (e.g. reporting, network enforcement, vulnerability detection, license management). The phrase "set of capabilities on the endpoint" includes: hardware and software installed on the endpoint." asset Defined in [RFC4949] as "a system resource that is (a) required to be protected by an information system's security policy, (b) intended to be protected by a countermeasure, or (c) required for a system's mission. Waltermire, et al. Expires April 22, 2014 [Page 2] Internet-Draft Terminology for Security Assessment October 2013 asset characterization Asset characterization is the process of defining attributes that describe properties of an identified asset. asset targeting Asset targeting is the use of asset identification and categorization information to drive human-directed, automated decision making for data collection and analysis in support of endpoint posture assessment. attribute Defined in [RFC5209] as "data element including any requisite meta-data describing an observed, expected, or the operational status of an endpoint feature (e.g., anti-virus software is currently in use)." endpoint Defined in [RFC5209] as "any computing device that can be connected to a network. Such devices normally are associated with a particular link layer address before joining the network and potentially an IP address once on the network. This includes: laptops, desktops, servers, cell phones, or any device that may have an IP address." Network infrastructure devices (e.g. switches, routers, firewalls), which fit the definition, are also considered to be endpoints within this document. Based on the previous definition of an asset, an endpoint is a type of asset. Exposure An endpoint misconfiguration or software flaw that allows access to information or capabilities that can be used by an attacker as a means to compromise an endpoint or network. (derived from CVE exposure definition) From RFC4949: (I) A type of threat action whereby sensitive data is directly released to an unauthorized entity. (See: unauthorized disclosure.) Usage: This type of threat action includes the following subtypes: - "Deliberate Exposure": Intentional release of sensitive data to an unauthorized entity. - "Scavenging": Searching through data residue in a system to gain Waltermire, et al. Expires April 22, 2014 [Page 3] Internet-Draft Terminology for Security Assessment October 2013 unauthorized knowledge of sensitive data. - "Human error": / exposure/ Human action or inaction that unintentionally results in an entity gaining unauthorized knowledge of sensitive data. (Compare: corruption, incapacitation.) - "Hardware or software error": /exposure/ System failure that unintentionally results in an entity gaining unauthorized knowledge of sensitive data. (Compare: corruption, incapacitation.) Misconfiguration A misconfiguration is a configuration setting that violates organizational security policies, introduces a possible security weakness in a system, or permits or causes unintended behavior that may impact the security posture of a system. (from NIST IR 7670) The misalignment of a unit of endpoint configuration posture relative to organizational expectations that is subject to exploitation or misuse. posture Defined in [RFC5209] as "configuration and/or status of hardware or software on an endpoint as it pertains to an organization's security policy." This term is used within the scope of this document to represent the state information that is collected from an endpoint (e.g. software/hardware inventory, configuration settings). posture attributes Defined in [RFC5209] as "attributes describing the configuration or status (posture) of a feature of the endpoint. For example, a Posture Attribute might describe the version of the operating system installed on the system." Within this document this term represents a specific assertion about endpoint state (e.g. configuration setting, installed software, hardware). The phrase "features of the endpoint" refers to installed software or software components. Remediation A remediation is defined as a security-related set of actions that results in a change to a computer's state and may consist of changes motivated by the need to enforce organizational security policies, address discovered vulnerabilities, or correct misconfigurations. (from NIST IR 7670) Waltermire, et al. Expires April 22, 2014 [Page 4] Internet-Draft Terminology for Security Assessment October 2013 software flaw A weakness in software that is subject to exploitation or misuse. A software flaw can be used by an attacker to gain access to a system or network, and/or materially affect the confidentiality, integrity or availability of information hosted by an endpoint or exchanged over a network. Such a flaw may allow an attacker to execute commands as another user, access data that is contrary to specified access controls, pose as another entity, or to conduct a denial of service. (derived from CVE vulnerability definition) system resource Defined in [RFC4949] as "data contained in an information system; or a service provided by a system; or a system capacity, such as processing power or communication bandwidth; or an item of system equipment (i.e., hardware, firmware, software, or documentation); or a facility that houses system operations and equipment. Vulnerability A vulnerability is a state of configuration or defect in a system which allows an unintended and unauthorized party to violate the security or policies of the system. A weakness in an information system, system security procedures, internal controls, or implementation that is subject to exploitation or misuse. This includes flaws in software and processes, and misconfiguration of hardware or software. (derived from NIST definitions) Waltermire, et al. Expires April 22, 2014 [Page 5] Internet-Draft Terminology for Security Assessment October 2013 From RFC4949: (I) A flaw or weakness in a system's design, implementation, or operation and management that could be exploited to violate the system's security policy. (See: harden.) Tutorial: A system can have three types of vulnerabilities: (a) vulnerabilities in design or specification; (b) vulnerabilities in implementation; and (c) vulnerabilities in operation and management. Most systems have one or more vulnerabilities, but this does not mean that the systems are too flawed to use. Not every threat results in an attack, and not every attack succeeds. Success depends on the degree of vulnerability, the strength of attacks, and the effectiveness of any countermeasures in use. If the attacks needed to exploit a vulnerability are very difficult to carry out, then the vulnerability may be tolerable. If the perceived benefit to an attacker is small, then even an easily exploited vulnerability may be tolerable. However, if the attacks are well understood and easily made, and if the vulnerable system is employed by a wide range of users, then it is likely that there will be enough motivation for someone to launch an attack. Vulnerability Management The process of mitigating the ability to exploit a vulnerability, via defect removal or protective measures such that exploitation becomes impossible or highly unlikely. (from Chris Inacio) 2.1. Requirements Language The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [RFC2119]. 3. IANA Considerations This memo includes no request to IANA. 4. Security Considerations This memo documents terminology for security automation. While it is about security, it does not affect security. 5. Acknowledgements 6. Change Log 6.1. ietf-sacm-terminology-01- to -02- Added Vulnerability, Vulnerability Management, xposure, Misconfiguration, and Software flaw. Waltermire, et al. Expires April 22, 2014 [Page 6] Internet-Draft Terminology for Security Assessment October 2013 6.2. -00- draft 7. References 7.1. Normative References [RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997. 7.2. Informative References [RFC4949] Shirey, R., "Internet Security Glossary, Version 2", RFC 4949, August 2007. [RFC5209] Sangster, P., Khosravi, H., Mani, M., Narayan, K., and J. Tardo, "Network Endpoint Assessment (NEA): Overview and Requirements", RFC 5209, June 2008. Authors' Addresses David Waltermire National Institute of Standards and Technology 100 Bureau Drive Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877 USA Email: david.waltermire@nist.gov Adam W. Montville Tripwire, Inc. 101 SW Main Street, Suite 1500 Portland, Oregon 97204 USA Email: amontville@tripwire.com David Harrington Effective Software 50 Harding Rd Portsmouth, NH 03801 USA Email: ietfdbh@comcast.net Waltermire, et al. Expires April 22, 2014 [Page 7]