IR 6 Incident Reporting

---
name: "IR-6_incident-reporting"
description: "Require personnel to report suspected incidents to the organizational incident response capability within [organization-defined] ;"
category: "configuration"
version: "5.2.0"
author: "cyberstrike-official"
tags:
  - nist
  - sp800-53
  - rev5
  - ir-6
  - ir
tech_stack:
  - any
cwe_ids: []
chains_with:
  - CM-6
  - CP-2
  - IR-4
  - IR-5
  - IR-8
  - IR-9
prerequisites: []
severity_boost:
  CM-6: "Chain with CM-6 for comprehensive security coverage"
  CP-2: "Chain with CP-2 for comprehensive security coverage"
  IR-4: "Chain with IR-4 for comprehensive security coverage"
---

# IR-6 Incident Reporting

## High-Level Description

**Family:** Incident Response (IR)
**Framework:** NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

The types of incidents reported, the content and timeliness of the reports, and the designated reporting authorities reflect applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines. Incident information can inform risk assessments, control effectiveness assessments, security requirements for acquisitions, and selection criteria for technology products.

## What to Check

- [ ] Verify IR-6 Incident Reporting is documented in SSP
- [ ] Validate all 2 control requirements are implemented
- [ ] Confirm control is operating effectively
- [ ] Review evidence of continuous monitoring for IR-6

## How to Test

### Step 1: Review Documentation

Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for IR-6 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 |
| ------------- | --------------------------------- | ----- |
| Manual Review | Documentation and interview-based | N/A   |

## Remediation Guide

### Control Statement

Require personnel to report suspected incidents to the organizational incident response capability within [organization-defined] ; and
Report incident information to [organization-defined].

### Implementation Guidance

The types of incidents reported, the content and timeliness of the reports, and the designated reporting authorities reflect applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines. Incident information can inform risk assessments, control effectiveness assessments, security requirements for acquisitions, and selection criteria for technology products.

## Risk Assessment

| Finding                                 | Severity | Impact                       |
| --------------------------------------- | -------- | ---------------------------- |
| IR-6 Incident Reporting not implemented | Medium   | Incident Response            |
| IR-6 partially implemented              | Low      | Incomplete Incident Response |

## CWE Categories

| CWE ID | Title                 |
| ------ | --------------------- |
| N/A    | No direct CWE mapping |

## References

- [NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - IR-6](https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/cprt/catalog#/cprt/framework/version/SP_800_53_5_1_1/home?element=ir-6)
- [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 (CM-6, CP-2, IR-4, IR-5, IR-8) reviewed