General Purpose Operating System SRG Version Comparison
General Purpose Operating System Security Requirements Guide
Comparison
There are 6 differences between versions v2 r1 (July 23, 2021) (the "left" version) and v2 r3 (April 27, 2022) (the "right" version).
Check SRG-OS-000481-GPOS-00481 was added to the benchmark in the "right" version.
This check's original form is available here.
Text Differences
Title
The operating system must protect the confidentiality and integrity of communications with wireless peripherals.
Check Content
Verify the operating system protects the confidentiality and integrity of communications with wireless peripherals. If it does not, this is a finding.
Discussion
Without protection of communications with wireless peripherals, confidentiality and integrity may be compromised because unprotected communications can be intercepted and either read, altered, or used to compromise the operating system. This requirement applies to wireless peripheral technologies (e.g., wireless mice, keyboards, displays, etc.) used with an operating system. Wireless peripherals (e.g., Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/IR Keyboards, Mice, and Pointing Devices and Near Field Communications [NFC]) present a unique challenge by creating an open, unsecured port on a computer. Wireless peripherals must meet DoD requirements for wireless data transmission and be approved for use by the AO. Even though some wireless peripherals, such as mice and pointing devices, do not ordinarily carry information that need to be protected, modification of communications with these wireless peripherals may be used to compromise the operating system. Communication paths outside the physical protection of a controlled boundary are exposed to the possibility of interception and modification. Protecting the confidentiality and integrity of communications with wireless peripherals can be accomplished by physical means (e.g., employing physical barriers to wireless radio frequencies) or by logical means (e.g., employing cryptographic techniques). If physical means of protection are employed, then logical means (cryptography) do not have to be employed, and vice versa. If the wireless peripheral is only passing telemetry data, encryption of the data may not be required.
Fix
Configure the operating system to protect the confidentiality and integrity of communications with wireless peripherals.