AC 17(10) Authenticate Remote Commands

---
name: "AC-17(10)_authenticate-remote-commands"
description: "Implement [organization-defined] to authenticate [organization-defined]."
category: "authorization"
version: "5.2.0"
author: "cyberstrike-official"
tags:
  - nist
  - sp800-53
  - rev5
  - ac-17-10
  - ac
  - enhancement
tech_stack:
  - aws
  - azure
  - gcp
  - linux
  - windows
cwe_ids:
  - CWE-284
chains_with:
  - SC-12
  - SC-13
  - SC-23
prerequisites:
  - AC-17
severity_boost:
  SC-12: "Chain with SC-12 for comprehensive security coverage"
  SC-13: "Chain with SC-13 for comprehensive security coverage"
  SC-23: "Chain with SC-23 for comprehensive security coverage"
---

# AC-17(10) Authenticate Remote Commands

> **Enhancement of:** AC-17

## High-Level Description

**Family:** Access Control (AC)
**Framework:** NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

Authenticating remote commands protects against unauthorized commands and the replay of authorized commands. The ability to authenticate remote commands is important for remote systems for which loss, malfunction, misdirection, or exploitation would have immediate or serious consequences, such as injury, death, property damage, loss of high value assets, failure of mission or business functions, or compromise of classified or controlled unclassified information. Authentication mechanisms for remote commands ensure that systems accept and execute commands in the order intended, execute only authorized commands, and reject unauthorized commands. Cryptographic mechanisms can be used, for example, to authenticate remote commands.

## What to Check

- [ ] Verify AC-17(10) Authenticate Remote Commands is documented in SSP
- [ ] Confirm control is operating effectively
- [ ] Review evidence of continuous monitoring for AC-17(10)
- [ ] Verify enhancement builds upon base control AC-17

## How to Test

### Step 1: Review Documentation

Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for AC-17(10) implementation details. Verify the organization has documented how this control is satisfied.

### Step 2: Validate Implementation

```
# For cloud environments, use cloud-audit-mcp tools
# For on-premises, review system configurations directly

# Example: Check if account management policies exist
grep -r "account.management\|access.control" /etc/security/ 2>/dev/null
```

### Step 3: Test Operating Effectiveness

Verify the control is actively functioning, not just documented. Check logs, configurations, and operational evidence.

## Tools

| Tool            | Purpose                                | Usage                      |
| --------------- | -------------------------------------- | -------------------------- |
| cloud-audit-mcp | Check IAM policies and access controls | `cloud_audit_iam_policies` |
| hackbrowser | Test web application access controls   | `hackbrowser`        |

## Remediation Guide

### Control Statement

Implement [organization-defined] to authenticate [organization-defined].

### Implementation Guidance

Authenticating remote commands protects against unauthorized commands and the replay of authorized commands. The ability to authenticate remote commands is important for remote systems for which loss, malfunction, misdirection, or exploitation would have immediate or serious consequences, such as injury, death, property damage, loss of high value assets, failure of mission or business functions, or compromise of classified or controlled unclassified information. Authentication mechanisms for remote commands ensure that systems accept and execute commands in the order intended, execute only authorized commands, and reject unauthorized commands. Cryptographic mechanisms can be used, for example, to authenticate remote commands.

## Risk Assessment

| Finding                                                | Severity | Impact                    |
| ------------------------------------------------------ | -------- | ------------------------- |
| AC-17(10) Authenticate Remote Commands not implemented | High     | Access Control            |
| AC-17(10) partially implemented                        | Medium   | Incomplete Access Control |

## CWE Categories

| CWE ID  | Title                   |
| ------- | ----------------------- |
| CWE-284 | Improper Access Control |

## References

- [NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - AC-17(10)](https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/cprt/catalog#/cprt/framework/version/SP_800_53_5_1_1/home?element=ac-17.10)
- [NIST SP 800-53A Rev 5 (Assessment Procedures)](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/53/a/r5/final)
- [NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 Full Catalog](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/53/r5/upd1/final)

## Checklist

- [ ] Control documented in SSP
- [ ] Implementation evidence collected
- [ ] Operating effectiveness validated
- [ ] Continuous monitoring in place
- [ ] Related controls (SC-12, SC-13, SC-23) reviewed