O112-C2-015700 - The DBMS must use NIST-validated FIPS 140-2-compliant cryptography for authentication mechanisms.

Information

Encryption is only as good as the encryption modules utilized. Unapproved cryptographic module algorithms cannot be verified and cannot be relied upon to provide confidentiality or integrity, and DoD data may be compromised due to weak algorithms.

Applications utilizing encryption are required to use approved encryption modules that meet the requirements of applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, and guidance.

FIPS 140-2 is the current standard for validating cryptographic modules, and NSA Type-X (where X=1, 2, 3, 4) products are NSA-certified hardware-based encryption modules.

Authentication modules with weak encryption could allow an attacker to gain access to data stored in the database and to the administration settings of the DBMS.

Solution

Utilize NIST-validated FIPS 140-2-compliant cryptography for all authentication mechanisms.

The strength requirements are dependent upon data classification.

For unclassified data, where cryptography is required:

AES 128 for encryption
SHA 256 for hashing

NSA has established the suite B encryption requirements for protecting National Security Systems (NSS) as follows:

AES 128 for Secret
AES 256 for Top Secret
SHA 256 for Secret
SHA 384 for Top Secret

National Security System is defined as:

(OMB Circular A-130) Any telecommunications or information system operated by the United States Government, the function, operation, or use of which (1) involves intelligence activities; (2) involves cryptologic activities related to national security; (3) involves command and control of military forces; (4) involves equipment that is an integral part of a weapon or weapons system; or (5) is critical to the direct fulfillment of military or intelligence missions, but excluding any system that is to be used for routine administrative and business applications (including payroll, finance, logistics, and personnel management applications).

There is more information on this topic in the Oracle Database 11.2g Advanced Security Administrator's Guide, which may be found at https://docs.oracle.com/database/112/DBSEG/E48135-11.pdf.

Note: because of changes in Oracle's licensing policy, it is no longer necessary to purchase Oracle Advanced Security to use network encryption and advanced authentication.

FIPS 140-2 documentation can be downloaded from http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/PubsFIPS.html#140-2

Item Details

Audit Name: DISA STIG Oracle 11.2g v2r2 Linux

Category: SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 9f767bf233e9b41f938ced855c6305c5975b13378e7d293f7f66b024bd488e23

Detections

Analytics

O112-C2-015700 - The DBMS must use NIST-validated FIPS 140-2-compliant cryptography for authentication mechanisms.

Information

Solution

See Also

Item Details