Device Class 1: Error Handling

Control ID: SI-11 Error Handling Family: System and Information Integrity Source: NIST 800-53r4
Control: The information system:
  1. Generates error messages that provide information necessary for corrective actions without revealing information that could be exploited by adversaries; and
  2. Reveals error messages only to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles].
Supplemental Guidance:
Organizations carefully consider the structure/content of error messages. The extent to which information systems are able to identify and handle error conditions is guided by organizational policy and operational requirements. Information that could be exploited by adversaries includes, for example, erroneous logon attempts with passwords entered by mistake as the username, mission/business information that can be derived from (if not stated explicitly by) information recorded, and personal information such as account numbers, social security numbers, and credit card numbers. In addition, error messages may provide a covert channel for transmitting information.

Related Controls: AU-2, AU-3, SC-31
Control Enhancements: N/A
References: N/A
Mechanisms:

  • The device shall provide a facility whereby applications and other processes may write to a store that can only be read by an approved administrator.

Protocol Implementation Conformance Statements:
ID Statement Status Reference Notes
SI-11/1 Provides a facility for applications to write messages that can only be read by an administrator M
SI-11/1 Writes error messages to the store referenced in SI-11/1 M