CMA_0117 - Define and enforce conditions for shared and group accounts
Additional metadata
Name/Id: CMA_0117 / CMA_0117 Category: Documentation Title: Define and enforce conditions for shared and group accounts Ownership: Customer Description: Microsoft recommends that your organization define and enforce conditions for using shared or group accounts . Your organization should consider creating and maintaining Access Control policies and standard operating procedures that define conditions for using shared or group accounts and how those conditions are enforced.
Microsoft also recommends that your organization only permit the use of shared/group accounts that meet conditions for establishing the accounts as defined by the organization. Your organization can establish a process for reissuing shared/group account credentials when individuals are removed from the group. When members leave the group, it is recommended that your organization's information system terminates shared/group account credentials.
The New Zealand Information Security Manual (NZISM) prohibits the use of shared accounts for Top Secret; systems and discourages the use of shared accounts for all classifications. Requirements: The customer is responsible for implementing this recommendation.
Mode
All
Type
BuiltIn
Preview
False
Deprecated
False
Effect
Default Manual Allowed Manual, Disabled
RBAC role(s)
none
Rule aliases
none
Rule resource types
IF (1) Microsoft.Resources/subscriptions
Compliance
The following 16 compliance controls are associated with this Policy definition 'Define and enforce conditions for shared and group accounts' (f7eb1d0b-6d4f-2d59-1591-7563e11a9313)
The organization:
a. Identifies and selects the following types of information system accounts to support organizational missions/business functions: [Assignment: organization-defined information system account types];
b. Assigns account managers for information system accounts;
c. Establishes conditions for group and role membership;
d. Specifies authorized users of the information system, group and role membership, and access authorizations (i.e., privileges) and other attributes (as required) for each account;
e. Requires approvals by [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] for requests to create information system accounts;
f. Creates, enables, modifies, disables, and removes information system accounts in accordance with [Assignment: organization-defined procedures or conditions];
g. Monitors the use of, information system accounts;
h. Notifies account managers:
1. When accounts are no longer required;
2. When users are terminated or transferred; and
3. When individual information system usage or need-to-know changes;
i. Authorizes access to the information system based on:
1. A valid access authorization;
2. Intended system usage; and
3. Other attributes as required by the organization or associated missions/business functions;
j. Reviews accounts for compliance with account management requirements [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and
k. Establishes a process for reissuing shared/group account credentials (if deployed) when individuals are removed from the group.
Supplemental Guidance: Information system account types include individual, shared, group, system, guest/anonymous, emergency, developer/manufacturer/vendor, temporary, and service. Some of the account management requirements listed above can be implemented by organizational information systems. The identification of authorized users of the information system and the specification of access privileges reflects the requirements in other security controls in the security plan. Users requiring administrative privileges on information system accounts receive additional scrutiny by appropriate organizational personnel (e.g., system owner, mission/business owner, or chief information security officer) responsible for approving such accounts and privileged access. Organizations may choose to define access privileges or other attributes by account, by type of account, or a combination of both. Other attributes required for authorizing access include, for example, restrictions on time-of-day, day-of-week, and point-of-origin. In defining other account attributes, organizations consider system-related requirements (e.g., scheduled maintenance, system upgrades) and mission/business requirements, (e.g., time zone differences, customer requirements, remote access to support travel requirements). Failure to consider these factors could affect information system availability. Temporary and emergency accounts are accounts intended for short-term use. Organizations establish temporary accounts as a part of normal account activation procedures when there is a need for short-term accounts without the demand for immediacy in account activation. Organizations establish emergency accounts in response to crisis situations and with the need for rapid account activation. Therefore, emergency account activation may bypass normal account authorization processes. Emergency and temporary accounts are not to be confused with infrequently used accounts (e.g., local logon accounts used for special tasks defined by organizations or when network resources are unavailable). Such accounts remain available and are not subject to automatic disabling or removal dates. Conditions for disabling or deactivating accounts include, for example: (i) when shared/group, emergency, or temporary accounts are no longer required; or (ii) when individuals are transferred or terminated. Some types of information system accounts may require specialized training. Related controls: AC-3, AC-4, AC-5, AC-6, AC-10, AC-17, AC-19, AC-20, AU-9, IA-2, IA-4, IA-5, IA-8, CM-5, CM-6, CM-11, MA-3, MA-4, MA-5, PL-4, SC-13.
References: None.
The organization only permits the use of shared/group accounts that meet [Assignment: organization-defined conditions for establishing shared/group accounts].
The organization:
a. Identifies and selects the following types of information system accounts to support organizational missions/business functions: [Assignment: organization-defined information system account types];
b. Assigns account managers for information system accounts;
c. Establishes conditions for group and role membership;
d. Specifies authorized users of the information system, group and role membership, and access authorizations (i.e., privileges) and other attributes (as required) for each account;
e. Requires approvals by [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] for requests to create information system accounts;
f. Creates, enables, modifies, disables, and removes information system accounts in accordance with [Assignment: organization-defined procedures or conditions];
g. Monitors the use of, information system accounts;
h. Notifies account managers:
1. When accounts are no longer required;
2. When users are terminated or transferred; and
3. When individual information system usage or need-to-know changes;
i. Authorizes access to the information system based on:
1. A valid access authorization;
2. Intended system usage; and
3. Other attributes as required by the organization or associated missions/business functions;
j. Reviews accounts for compliance with account management requirements [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and
k. Establishes a process for reissuing shared/group account credentials (if deployed) when individuals are removed from the group.
Supplemental Guidance: Information system account types include individual, shared, group, system, guest/anonymous, emergency, developer/manufacturer/vendor, temporary, and service. Some of the account management requirements listed above can be implemented by organizational information systems. The identification of authorized users of the information system and the specification of access privileges reflects the requirements in other security controls in the security plan. Users requiring administrative privileges on information system accounts receive additional scrutiny by appropriate organizational personnel (e.g., system owner, mission/business owner, or chief information security officer) responsible for approving such accounts and privileged access. Organizations may choose to define access privileges or other attributes by account, by type of account, or a combination of both. Other attributes required for authorizing access include, for example, restrictions on time-of-day, day-of-week, and point-of-origin. In defining other account attributes, organizations consider system-related requirements (e.g., scheduled maintenance, system upgrades) and mission/business requirements, (e.g., time zone differences, customer requirements, remote access to support travel requirements). Failure to consider these factors could affect information system availability. Temporary and emergency accounts are accounts intended for short-term use. Organizations establish temporary accounts as a part of normal account activation procedures when there is a need for short-term accounts without the demand for immediacy in account activation. Organizations establish emergency accounts in response to crisis situations and with the need for rapid account activation. Therefore, emergency account activation may bypass normal account authorization processes. Emergency and temporary accounts are not to be confused with infrequently used accounts (e.g., local logon accounts used for special tasks defined by organizations or when network resources are unavailable). Such accounts remain available and are not subject to automatic disabling or removal dates. Conditions for disabling or deactivating accounts include, for example: (i) when shared/group, emergency, or temporary accounts are no longer required; or (ii) when individuals are transferred or terminated. Some types of information system accounts may require specialized training. Related controls: AC-3, AC-4, AC-5, AC-6, AC-10, AC-17, AC-19, AC-20, AU-9, IA-2, IA-4, IA-5, IA-8, CM-5, CM-6, CM-11, MA-3, MA-4, MA-5, PL-4, SC-13.
References: None.
The organization only permits the use of shared/group accounts that meet [Assignment: organization-defined conditions for establishing shared/group accounts].
0644.10k3Organizational.4-10.k 10.05 Security In Development and Support Processes
Shared
n/a
The organization employs automated mechanisms to (i) centrally manage, apply, and verify configuration settings; (ii) respond to unauthorized changes to network and system security-related configuration settings; and, (iii) enforce access restrictions and auditing of the enforcement actions.
1110.01b1System.5-01.b 01.02 Authorized Access to Information Systems
Shared
n/a
Users are given a written statement of their access rights, which they are required to sign stating they understand the conditions of access. Guest/anonymous, shared/group, emergency and temporary accounts are specifically authorized and use monitored.
1124.01q1System.34-01.q 01.05 Operating System Access Control
Shared
n/a
Shared/group and generic user IDs are only used in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear business benefit, when user functions do not need to be traced, additional accountability controls are implemented, and after approval by management.
1139.01b1System.68-01.b 01.02 Authorized Access to Information Systems
Shared
n/a
Account types are identified (individual, shared/group, system, application, guest/anonymous, emergency and temporary), conditions for group and role membership are established, and, if used, shared/group account credentials are modified when users are removed from the group.
The organization:
a. Identifies and selects the following types of information system accounts to support organizational missions/business functions: [Assignment: organization-defined information system account types];
b. Assigns account managers for information system accounts;
c. Establishes conditions for group and role membership;
d. Specifies authorized users of the information system, group and role membership, and access authorizations (i.e., privileges) and other attributes (as required) for each account;
e. Requires approvals by [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] for requests to create information system accounts;
f. Creates, enables, modifies, disables, and removes information system accounts in accordance with [Assignment: organization-defined procedures or conditions];
g. Monitors the use of, information system accounts;
h. Notifies account managers:
1. When accounts are no longer required;
2. When users are terminated or transferred; and
3. When individual information system usage or need-to-know changes;
i. Authorizes access to the information system based on:
1. A valid access authorization;
2. Intended system usage; and
3. Other attributes as required by the organization or associated missions/business functions;
j. Reviews accounts for compliance with account management requirements [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and
k. Establishes a process for reissuing shared/group account credentials (if deployed) when individuals are removed from the group.
Supplemental Guidance: Information system account types include individual, shared, group, system, guest/anonymous, emergency, developer/manufacturer/vendor, temporary, and service. Some of the account management requirements listed above can be implemented by organizational information systems. The identification of authorized users of the information system and the specification of access privileges reflects the requirements in other security controls in the security plan. Users requiring administrative privileges on information system accounts receive additional scrutiny by appropriate organizational personnel (e.g., system owner, mission/business owner, or chief information security officer) responsible for approving such accounts and privileged access. Organizations may choose to define access privileges or other attributes by account, by type of account, or a combination of both. Other attributes required for authorizing access include, for example, restrictions on time-of-day, day-of-week, and point-of-origin. In defining other account attributes, organizations consider system-related requirements (e.g., scheduled maintenance, system upgrades) and mission/business requirements, (e.g., time zone differences, customer requirements, remote access to support travel requirements). Failure to consider these factors could affect information system availability. Temporary and emergency accounts are accounts intended for short-term use. Organizations establish temporary accounts as a part of normal account activation procedures when there is a need for short-term accounts without the demand for immediacy in account activation. Organizations establish emergency accounts in response to crisis situations and with the need for rapid account activation. Therefore, emergency account activation may bypass normal account authorization processes. Emergency and temporary accounts are not to be confused with infrequently used accounts (e.g., local logon accounts used for special tasks defined by organizations or when network resources are unavailable). Such accounts remain available and are not subject to automatic disabling or removal dates. Conditions for disabling or deactivating accounts include, for example: (i) when shared/group, emergency, or temporary accounts are no longer required; or (ii) when individuals are transferred or terminated. Some types of information system accounts may require specialized training. Related controls: AC-3, AC-4, AC-5, AC-6, AC-10, AC-17, AC-19, AC-20, AU-9, IA-2, IA-4, IA-5, IA-8, CM-5, CM-6, CM-11, MA-3, MA-4, MA-5, PL-4, SC-13.
References: None.
The organization only permits the use of shared/group accounts that meet [Assignment: organization-defined conditions for establishing shared/group accounts].
a. Define and document the types of accounts allowed and specifically prohibited for use within the system;
b. Assign account managers;
c. Require [Assignment: organization-defined prerequisites and criteria] for group and role membership;
d. Specify:
1. Authorized users of the system;
2. Group and role membership; and
3. Access authorizations (i.e., privileges) and [Assignment: organization-defined attributes (as required)] for each account;
e. Require approvals by [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] for requests to create accounts;
f. Create, enable, modify, disable, and remove accounts in accordance with [Assignment: organization-defined policy, procedures, prerequisites, and criteria];
g. Monitor the use of accounts;
h. Notify account managers and [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] within:
1. [Assignment: organization-defined time period] when accounts are no longer required;
2. [Assignment: organization-defined time period] when users are terminated or transferred; and
3. [Assignment: organization-defined time period] when system usage or need-to-know changes for an individual;
i. Authorize access to the system based on:
1. A valid access authorization;
2. Intended system usage; and
3. [Assignment: organization-defined attributes (as required)];
j. Review accounts for compliance with account management requirements [Assignment: organization-defined frequency];
k. Establish and implement a process for changing shared or group account authenticators (if deployed) when individuals are removed from the group; and
l. Align account management processes with personnel termination and transfer processes.
Requirement 08: Identify Users and Authenticate Access to System Components
User identification and related accounts for users and administrators are strictly managed throughout an account’s lifecycle
Shared
n/a
Group, shared, or generic accounts, or other shared authentication credentials are only used when necessary on an exception basis, and are managed as follows:
• Account use is prevented unless needed for an exceptional circumstance.
• Use is limited to the time needed for the exceptional circumstance.
• Business justification for use is documented.
• Use is explicitly approved by management.
• Individual user identity is confirmed before access to an account is granted.
• Every action taken is attributable to an individual user.
1. Restrict Internet Access & Protect Critical Systems from General IT Environment
Restrict and control the allocation and usage of administrator-level operating system accounts.
Shared
n/a
Access to administrator-level operating system accounts is restricted to the maximum extent possible. Usage is controlled, monitored, and only permitted for relevant activities such as software installation and configuration, maintenance, and emergency activities. At all other times, an account with the least privilege access is used.