PGS9-00-008700 - PostgreSQL must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized modification of organization-defined information at rest (to include, at a minimum, PII and classified information) on organization-defined information system components.

Information

PostgreSQLs handling data requiring 'data at rest' protections must employ cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure and modification of the information at rest. These cryptographic mechanisms may be native to PostgreSQL or implemented via additional software or operating system/file system settings, as appropriate to the situation.

Selection of a cryptographic mechanism is based on the need to protect the integrity of organizational information. The strength of the mechanism is commensurate with the security category and/or classification of the information. Organizations have the flexibility to either encrypt all information on storage devices (i.e., full disk encryption) or encrypt specific data structures (e.g., files, records, or fields).

The decision whether and what to encrypt rests with the data owner and is also influenced by the physical measures taken to secure the equipment and media on which the information resides.

Solution

Configure PostgreSQL, operating system/file system, and additional software as relevant, to provide the required level of cryptographic protection.

The pgcrypto module provides cryptographic functions for PostgreSQL. See supplementary content APPENDIX-E for documentation on installing pgcrypto.

With pgcrypto installed, it's possible to insert encrypted data into the database:

INSERT INTO accounts(username, password) VALUES ('bob', crypt('a_secure_password', gen_salt('md5')));

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_PGS_SQL_9-x_V2R5_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION

References: 800-53|SC-28(1), CAT|II, CCI|CCI-002475, Rule-ID|SV-214124r961599_rule, STIG-ID|PGS9-00-008700, STIG-Legacy|SV-87655, STIG-Legacy|V-73003, Vuln-ID|V-214124

Plugin: PostgreSQLDB

Control ID: 8d8d11a90d9c474803174684dab0ecc377ec726709cd23fec998d4129ec570d3