AC.L2-3.1.15  

Reference: CMMC v2.13

Family: AC

Level Introduced: 2

Title: Privileged Remote Access

Practice:
Authorize remote execution of privileged commands and remote access to security-relevant information.

Further Discussion:
Privileged users are not necessarily allowed to perform their job functions from a remote location. Likewise, not all privileged commands may be executed remotely. Allowing remote execution of privileged commands or remote access to security-relevant information should be avoided if possible. If absolutely necessary, the privileged commands authorized for remote execution should be identified and documented. Document which user roles have permissions to remotely execute privileged commands to make changes and to access security relevant information. Documentation must be used to establish security mechanisms that enforce the policy.

This requirement, AC.L2-3.1.15, requires authorization for privileged commands executed during a remote session and complements five other requirements dealing with remote access (AC.L2-3.1.12, AC.L2-3.1.14, AC.L2-3.1.13, IA.L2-3.5.3, and MA.L2-3.7.5):
• AC.L2-3.1.12 requires the control of remote access sessions.
• AC.L2-3.1.14 limits remote access to specific access control points.
• AC.L2-3.1.13 requires the use of cryptographic mechanisms when enabling remote sessions.
• IA.L2-3.5.3 requires multifactor authentication for network access to non-privileged accounts.
• Finally, MA.L2-3.7.5 requires the addition of multifactor authentication for remote maintenance sessions.

This requirement, AC.L2-3.1.15, also extends AC.L2-3.1.2, which limits the types of transactions and functions that authorized users are permitted to execute.

Example
Your company’s Access Control Policy permits certain work roles to remotely perform a limited set of privileged commands from company-owned computers [a]. You implement controls to enforce who can remotely execute a privileged command, which privileged commands they can execute, and who is allowed access to security relevant information such as audit log configuration settings [a,c,d].

Potential Assessment Considerations
• Does system documentation identify system administration or security functions that can be executed remotely [a]?
• Is execution of the identified privileged commands via remote access only authorized for documented operational needs [c]?

Source: CMMC v2.13