DISCUSSION [NIST SP 800-171 R2]

Designated locations include system entry and exit points which may include firewalls, remote access servers, workstations, electronic mail servers, web servers, proxy servers, notebook computers, and mobile devices. Malicious code includes viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and spyware. Malicious code can be encoded in various formats (e.g., UUENCODE, Unicode), contained within compressed or hidden files, or hidden in files using techniques such as steganography. Malicious code can be inserted into systems in a variety of ways including web accesses, electronic mail, electronic mail attachments, and portable storage devices. Malicious code insertions occur through the exploitation of system vulnerabilities.

Malicious code protection mechanisms include anti-virus signature definitions and reputation-based technologies. A variety of technologies and methods exist to limit or eliminate the effects of malicious code. Pervasive configuration management and comprehensive software integrity controls may be effective in preventing execution of unauthorized code. In addition to commercial off-the-shelf software, malicious code may also be present in custom-built software. This could include logic bombs, back doors, and other types of cyber-attacks that could affect organizational missions/business functions. Traditional malicious code protection mechanisms cannot always detect such code. In these situations, organizations rely instead on other safeguards including secure coding practices, configuration management and control, trusted procurement processes, and monitoring practices to help ensure that software does not perform functions other than the functions intended. NIST SP 800-83 provides guidance on malware incident prevention.

FURTHER DISCUSSION

A designated location may be a network device such as a firewall or an end user’s computer.

Malicious code, which can be delivered by a range of means (e.g., email, removable media, or websites), includes the following:

virus – program designed to damage, steal information, change data, send email, show messages, or any combination of these things;

spyware – program designed to gather information about a person’s activity in secret when they click on a link, usually installed without the person knowing ;

trojan horse – type of malware made to look like legitimate software and used by cyber criminals to get access to a company’s systems; and

ransomware – type of malware that threatens to publish the contractor’s data or perpetually block access to it unless a ransom is paid.

Example

You are buying a new computer and want to protect your company’s information from viruses, spyware, etc. You buy and install anti-malware software [a,b].

Potential Considerations

Are system components (e.g., workstations, servers, email gateways, mobile devices) for which malicious code protection must be provided identified and documented [a]?

Copyright

Copyright 2020, 2021 Carnegie Mellon University and The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC.

Copyright 2021 Futures, Inc.

This material is based upon work funded and supported by the Department of Defense under Contract No. FA8702-15-D-0002 with Carnegie Mellon University for the operation of the Software Engineering Institute, a federally funded research and development center, and under Contract No. HQ0034-13-D-0003 and Contract No. N00024-13-D-6400 with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC, a University Affiliated Research Center.

The view, opinions, and/or findings contained in this material are those of the author(s) and should not be construed as an official Government position, policy, or decision, unless designated by other documentation.

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