Title

The VMM must prevent the installation of guest VMs, patches, service packs, device drivers, or VMM components without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is recognized and approved by the organization. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Changes to any software components can have significant effects on the overall security of the VMM. This requirement ensures the software has not been tampered with and that it has been provided by a trusted vendor. Accordingly, guest VMs, patches, service packs, device drivers, or VMM components must be signed with a certificate recognized and approved by the organization. Verifying the authenticity of the software prior to installation validates the integrity of the patch or upgrade received from a vendor. This ensures the software has not been tampered with and that it has been provided by a trusted vendor. Self-signed certificates are disallowed by this requirement. The VMM should not have to verify the software again. This requirement does not mandate DOD certificates for this purpose; however, the certificate used to verify the software must be from an approved certificate authority (CA).

Check Content

Verify the VMM prevents the installation of guest VMs, patches, service packs, device drivers, or VMM components without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is recognized and approved by the organization. If it does not, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the VMM to prevent the installation of guest VMs, patches, service packs, device drivers, or VMM components without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is recognized and approved by the organization.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-207472r984242_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-207472

Group Title: SRG-OS-000366

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

Controls tied to check. These are derived from the CCIs shown above.