CA-ACF2 must limit Write or greater access to SYS1.NUCLEUS to system programmers only.

To mitigate the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information by entities that have been issued certificates by DoW-approved PKIs, all DoW systems (e.g., web servers and web portals) must be properly configured to incorporate access control methods that do not rely solely on the possession of a certificate for access. Successful authentication must not automatically give an entity access to an asset or security boundary. Authorization procedures and controls must be implemented to ensure each authenticated entity also has a validated and current authorization. Authorization is the process of determining whether an entity, once authenticated, is permitted to access a specific asset. Information systems use access control policies and enforcement mechanisms to implement this requirement.

Access control policies include: identity-based policies, role-based policies, and attribute-based policies. Access enforcement mechanisms include: access control lists, access control matrices, and cryptography. These policies and mechanisms must be employed by the application to control access between users (or processes acting on behalf of users) and objects (e.g., devices, files, records, processes, programs, and domains) in the information system.

Satisfies: SRG-OS-000080-GPOS-00048, SRG-OS-000259-GPOS-00100, SRG-OS-000324-GPOS-00125

If all of the following are untrue, this is not a finding.

If any of the following is true, this is a finding.

The ACP data set rules for SYS1.NUCLEUS do not restrict WRITE and/or ALLOCATE access to only z/OS systems programming personnel.

The ACP data set rules for SYS1.NUCLEUS do not specify that all (i.e., failures and successes) WRITE and/or ALLOCATE access will be logged.

Review access authorization to critical system files. Evaluate the impact of correcting the deficiency. Develop a plan of action and implement the changes required to protect SYS1.NUCLEUS.

Configure the update and allocate access to SYS1.NUCLEUS to be limited to system programmers only and all update and allocate access is logged.